Feb 20, 2007 9:43 am US/Mountain
CBS4 Tests Bomb Detection Devices At DIA
by Rick Sallinger
DENVER (CBS4) ―
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A CBS4 employee places the explosive traces on his jacket
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New bomb screening devices in place at Denver International Airport and other airports across the United States didn't detect bomb making chemicals planted on a CBS4 employee passing through security screening lines.
CBS
New bomb screening devices in place at Denver International Airport and other airports across the United States didn't detect bomb making chemicals planted on a CBS4 employee passing through security screening lines. The CBS4 employee passed through all three checkpoints at DIA without being stopped.
The new screening devices called 'puffers' are made by General Electric. The machines are designed to detect explosives on people.
"As the passenger goes through there are puffs of air that dislodge very elemental chemistry," said Patrick Ahlstrom, a Transportation Security Administration spokesman, in May 2006.
The machine then analyzes the substances blown off the person.
CBS4 took chemicals, which can be volatile when mixed and detonated and spread them generously on the clothing of a CBS4 employee. In larger quantities, the chemicals are capable of blowing up a car.
The CBS4 employee purchased a one-way ticket and was directed to a secondary screening line. A small percentage of passengers are asked to pass through the explosive detectors.
The CBS4 employee was able to pass through the machine without any indication of detection. He did the same thing at two other checkpoints.
"Frankly, I'm disappointed by not surprised," said Joseph Szyliowicz, a professor at the University of Denver and transportation security expert. "It's conceivable that the particular mix of explosives was not programmed. It's conceivable that you're dealing with human error."
The 'puffers' are officially called 'Entry Scan' by GE and cost $160,000 each. A company spokesman said the machines are designed to detect explosives specified by customers.
The 'puffers' are in about half of the intended airports. More installation has been stopped amid reports of problems with dust and concerns about the inability of the machines to detect liquid explosives.
The TSA issued a statement that said the 'puffers' are in use at 37 airports across the U.S. as part of a "multi-layered approach" to security that is both visible and unseen.
(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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