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4 UPS planes found with "suspicious devices" on them. 3 in USA 1 in England.

ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
edited November 2010 in Debate and/or Discourse
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-29/ups-planes-in-new-jersey-philadelphia-probed-after-suspicious-items-found.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39911024/ns/us_news-airliner_security/

Story is still fresh and moving, but apparently some kind of ink toner device rigged to be/to look like a bomb was found on a flight from Yemen to the US via the UK.

and that find prompted searches which found 3 more "suspicious devices" on planes in America.

There are also unconfirmed reports of another device being found on a truck in New York.

From what reputable news media have gotten from sources inside the justice department, apparently these discoveries are the result of intelligence gathering and not a declared threat by any group as of yet.

Buttcleft on
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Posts

  • SheepSheep Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2010
    The one in England so far has not proven to be dangerous. Non explosive is the last report I read. I did hear on the TV in the next office over that the packages were from Sudan.

    Sheep on
  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Two US fighter planes are escorting a passenger plane to JFK. The plane's flight reportedly originated in Yemen, and had a layover/connection in UAE. Canadian fighters met the plane and escorted it to near the US/Canada border, where the US fighters picked it up.

    All NY airports are reporting business as usual, currently.

    Tox on
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  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Tox wrote: »
    Two US fighter planes are escorting a passenger plane to JFK. The plane's flight reportedly originated in Yemen, and had a layover/connection in UAE. Canadian fighters met the plane and escorted it to near the US/Canada border, where the US fighters picked it up.

    All NY airports are reporting business as usual, currently.

    Breaking news: Canada has an air force.

    My question about this is, are the devices actual like, ink-toners (that is, ink toners are part of the construction)? Is this just some sort of ploy to make people scared of something, rather than actually causing damage?

    Henroid on
  • adytumadytum The Inevitable Rise And FallRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    I hope UPS is up to date on their terrorism insurance.

    Also, it's depressing on a number of levels that there's such a thing as terrorism insurance.

    adytum on
  • HamHamJHamHamJ Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    The terrorists have realized they can do thousands of dollars in damages by duck taping five dollars worth of circutry from Radioshack to a box?

    HamHamJ on
    While racing light mechs, your Urbanmech comes in second place, but only because it ran out of ammo.
  • matt has a problemmatt has a problem Points to 'off' Points to 'on'Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Henroid wrote: »
    Tox wrote: »
    Two US fighter planes are escorting a passenger plane to JFK. The plane's flight reportedly originated in Yemen, and had a layover/connection in UAE. Canadian fighters met the plane and escorted it to near the US/Canada border, where the US fighters picked it up.

    All NY airports are reporting business as usual, currently.

    Breaking news: Canada has an air force.

    My question about this is, are the devices actual like, ink-toners (that is, ink toners are part of the construction)? Is this just some sort of ploy to make people scared of something, rather than actually causing damage?
    CNN has a few pictures of one of the devices up, it looks like some kind of circuit board that was wired to a toner cartridge.


    It's actually an HP A12 laser cartridge, I recognized it because we use them at work. They're like $80 too, those terrorists must be rolling in money.

    It could be nothing, it could be a joke, or it could be a dummy device planted to see what the response would be, on the assumption that if it wasn't detected they could build a bomb pretty easily out of a toner cartridge that size (about a foot long).

    matt has a problem on
    nibXTE7.png
  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Henroid wrote: »
    Breaking news: Canada has an air force.

    I believe they were CF-18s, which are F-18s we sold to Canada. So, yeah...technically.

    Tox on
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  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Tox wrote: »
    Henroid wrote: »
    Breaking news: Canada has an air force.

    I believe they were CF-18s, which are F-18s we sold to Canada. So, yeah...technically.

    Goddamn this is really funny to me. AHEM, anyway...
    Henroid wrote: »
    Tox wrote: »
    Two US fighter planes are escorting a passenger plane to JFK. The plane's flight reportedly originated in Yemen, and had a layover/connection in UAE. Canadian fighters met the plane and escorted it to near the US/Canada border, where the US fighters picked it up.

    All NY airports are reporting business as usual, currently.

    Breaking news: Canada has an air force.

    My question about this is, are the devices actual like, ink-toners (that is, ink toners are part of the construction)? Is this just some sort of ploy to make people scared of something, rather than actually causing damage?
    CNN has a few pictures of one of the devices up, it looks like some kind of circuit board that was wired to a toner cartridge.


    It's actually an HP A12 laser cartridge, I recognized it because we use them at work. They're like $80 too, those terrorists must be rolling in money.

    It could be nothing, it could be a joke, or it could be a dummy device planted to see what the response would be, on the assumption that if it wasn't detected they could build a bomb pretty easily out of a toner cartridge that size (about a foot long).

    It could be like HamHam said, that even with dummy or mock devices, they can bring a business / industry to a temporary stop. Which does indeed incur financial damage.

    Henroid on
  • HozHoz Cool Cat Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    NYTimes Breaking News alert says Obama claims bombs were found on US bound flight(s?).

    Hoz on
  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Hoz wrote: »
    NYTimes Breaking News alert says Obama claims bombs were found on US bound flight(s?).

    I think they're jumping the shark, trying to get the headline scoop. Hasn't been confirmed anywhere I've seen.

    Tox on
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  • Saint MadnessSaint Madness Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    I just heard on the news that the packages were destined for Synagogues in Chigago.

    A pretty unusual case to be honest, shipping bombs to their destinations from half the world away using UPS?

    Saint Madness on
  • matt has a problemmatt has a problem Points to 'off' Points to 'on'Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    I just heard on the news that the packages were destined for Synagogues in Chigago.

    A pretty unusual case to be honest, shipping bombs to their destinations from half the world away using UPS?
    What can Brown do for you?

    matt has a problem on
    nibXTE7.png
  • HozHoz Cool Cat Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Yeah, obviously they're making up what Obama is claiming.

    Or, they actually have a scoop and are releasing the core info ahead of an in-depth news article they are preparing. You know, how it actually happens.

    Hoz on
  • Ragnar DragonfyreRagnar Dragonfyre Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Just saw this on the news... John Brennan said the devices have been "rendered inert" and are being investigated thoroughly.

    Rendered inert? That certainly makes it sound like there was a real danger here.

    Ragnar Dragonfyre on
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  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Hoz wrote: »
    Yeah, obviously they're making up what Obama is claiming.

    Or, they actually have a scoop and are releasing the core info ahead of an in-depth news article they are preparing. You know, how it actually happens.

    Or, being as they just had a press conference live on television in which nothing like that was said, and Obama wasn't even in the room, they could be making stuff up.

    e: Not making stuff up, per se, but running with unconfirmed stories in the hopes of getting the scoop. I'm not saying they're lying, I'm saying they're forgoing proper vetting in hopes of getting to say "First!"

    Tox on
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  • TimeSynchTimeSynch Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    What can Brown do for you?

    Preferably not blow up my neighborhood, thanks. UPS already stomps in my packages half the time judging by how beat up the boxes are. I swear their workers like to play football puntsies with my parcels.

    TimeSynch on
  • ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    TimeSynch wrote: »
    What can Brown do for you?

    Preferably not blow up my neighborhood, thanks. UPS already stomps in my packages half the time judging by how beat up the boxes are. I swear their workers like to play football puntsies with my parcels.

    It wouldnt be a UPS delievery if the box didnt have tire and/or foot prints on it

    Buttcleft on
  • SheepSheep Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2010
    HamHamJ wrote: »
    The terrorists have realized they can do thousands of dollars in damages by duck taping five dollars worth of circutry from Radioshack to a box?

    Probably a dry run if anything terror related.

    Sheep on
  • HozHoz Cool Cat Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Tox wrote: »
    Hoz wrote: »
    Yeah, obviously they're making up what Obama is claiming.

    Or, they actually have a scoop and are releasing the core info ahead of an in-depth news article they are preparing. You know, how it actually happens.

    Or, being as they just had a press conference live on television in which nothing like that was said, and Obama wasn't even in the room, they could be making stuff up.

    e: Not making stuff up, per se, but running with unconfirmed stories in the hopes of getting the scoop. I'm not saying they're lying, I'm saying they're forgoing proper vetting in hopes of getting to say "First!"
    I think your skepticism is bullshit.

    Well, that's unfair of me. I know it's bullshit because this The Washington Post article is saying the same thing.

    Hoz on
  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    TimeSynch wrote: »
    What can Brown do for you?

    Preferably not blow up my neighborhood, thanks. UPS already stomps in my packages half the time judging by how beat up the boxes are. I swear their workers like to play football puntsies with my parcels.

    Years ago during a forum Secret Satan I ended up going down to the UPS warehouse nearby to try and figure out what hole they lost my package down.

    The combination of them sucking at finding my package and seeing them literally just throwing stuff towards the back of trucks pretty much put me off them altogether.

    Quid on
  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Hoz wrote: »
    Tox wrote: »
    Hoz wrote: »
    Yeah, obviously they're making up what Obama is claiming.

    Or, they actually have a scoop and are releasing the core info ahead of an in-depth news article they are preparing. You know, how it actually happens.

    Or, being as they just had a press conference live on television in which nothing like that was said, and Obama wasn't even in the room, they could be making stuff up.

    e: Not making stuff up, per se, but running with unconfirmed stories in the hopes of getting the scoop. I'm not saying they're lying, I'm saying they're forgoing proper vetting in hopes of getting to say "First!"
    I think your skepticism is bullshit.

    Well, that's unfair of me. I know it's bullshit because this The Washington Post article is saying the same thing.

    Ahhhh, we got our wires crossed. That article is talking about earlier events. I thought you were referencing the plane that just landed about an hour and a half ago, from this Washington Post article.

    Tox on
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  • JihadJesusJihadJesus Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    So, inert harmless packages that will almost certainly be detected and cause massive disruption in all kinds of ways? Terrorists aren't that smart. If they were we'd all be fucked; 50 terrorists with small arms could make this country damned miserable if they were that creative.

    JihadJesus on
  • PantsBPantsB Fake Thomas Jefferson Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    So they were directed to Synagogues rather than mosques? Seems unusual unless they were intended to be simple mail bombs. Or this is an attempt to gauge the ability of the US/UK to identify explosives being shipped

    PantsB on
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  • Captain CarrotCaptain Carrot Alexandria, VARegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    JihadJesus wrote: »
    So, inert harmless packages that will almost certainly be detected and cause massive disruption in all kinds of ways? Terrorists aren't that smart. If they were we'd all be fucked; 50 terrorists with small arms could make this country damned miserable if they were that creative.

    I don't think they were inert or harmless initially.

    Captain Carrot on
  • PantsBPantsB Fake Thomas Jefferson Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    JihadJesus wrote: »
    inert harmless packages

    No they were "rendered" inert and "apparently" contained explosive material, meaning they did something to make the bombs non-operable. Its possible they weren't functioning bombs but the information so far indicates that security believes they were explosives and that steps were taken

    PantsB on
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  • CabezoneCabezone Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Sounds like there was at least one real bomb and one fake one. No word on the makeup of the others.

    Cabezone on
  • PantsBPantsB Fake Thomas Jefferson Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    U.S. officials believe that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, commonly referred to as AQAP, is behind the incident.

    Obama confirmed that the packages originated in Yemen - the stronghold of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

    "We also know that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula continues to plan attacks against our homeland, our citizens, and our friends and allies," he said during a press briefing on the incident.
    Obama hasn't confirmed they believe AQ in the Arabian peninsula is responsible but officials believe its likely. "AQAP" is Anwar al-Awlaki's organization in Yemen who have attacked the US embassy twice, were behind the foiled Christmas day plane attack and is the group that the US has been giving aid to Yemen to fight (and which controls sizable portions of Yemen)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda_in_the_Arabian_Peninsula

    PantsB on
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  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    It's weird how, for almost a decade now, there's some big terror-related event that occurs right around Election Day.

    Funny that.

    Tox on
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  • TomantaTomanta Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    This is just a sad attempt by Democrats to make themselves look strong on terror just before the election when everyone knows the Republicans are the only ones that truly know how to keep Americans safe.
    Did I beat the radio talk show people?

    I'm a little upset at the lack of real, reliable information I'm seeing. But my only sources are a muted CNN and a twitter feed.

    Tomanta on
  • FeralFeral MEMETICHARIZARD interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Have they yet confirmed that the devices are in fact not Mooninites?

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
  • JihadJesusJihadJesus Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    PantsB wrote: »
    JihadJesus wrote: »
    inert harmless packages

    No they were "rendered" inert and "apparently" contained explosive material, meaning they did something to make the bombs non-operable. Its possible they weren't functioning bombs but the information so far indicates that security believes they were explosives and that steps were taken
    Ah, so not a clever ruse intentionally playing our terror over terrorist attacks against us that might indicate an awareness that could become a genuine issue - just goold old fashioned incompetence that could have been at worst somewhat middling in effect.

    Yeah, that sounds more like the inconsequential non-threat I'd expect from actual terrorists.

    JihadJesus on
  • HozHoz Cool Cat Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    I think "rendered inert" means the bomb squad defused the shit. I doubt they're speculating on the actions of the terrorists this early.

    Hoz on
  • PantsBPantsB Fake Thomas Jefferson Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Hoz wrote: »
    I think "rendered inert" means the bomb squad defused the shit. I doubt they're speculating on the actions of the terrorists this early.

    That'd be the normal thing to do I think but doing this on a plane might not be practical and they might want evidence
    Ponyface no!

    PantsB on
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  • JihadJesusJihadJesus Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    I have not played that video but I'm guessing they blew up a toy horse, at an elementary school, because they thought it was a bomb. I'm not sure if I hope it actually was a bomb, or that they just blew up some poor kid's birthday present.

    JihadJesus on
  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    JihadJesus wrote: »
    I have not played that video but I'm guessing they blew up a toy horse, at an elementary school, because they thought it was a bomb. I'm not sure if I hope it actually was a bomb, or that they just blew up some poor kid's birthday present.

    Terror toys. That there's a toy Ayrabb horse.

    Tox on
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  • MKRMKR Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    The fact that this sort of thing is so rare tells you how hard it is to pull off.

    Meanwhile, all the talking heads are saying we need more inspections when it's human intelligence that prevents this stuff.

    All kinds of dumbgoosery

    MKR on
  • GooeyGooey (\/)┌¶─¶┐(\/) pinch pinchRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    MKR wrote: »
    The fact that this sort of thing is so rare tells you how hard it is to pull off.

    Meanwhile, all the talking heads are saying we need more inspections when it's human intelligence that prevents this stuff.

    All kinds of dumbgoosery

    I took a graduate class in global supply chain management and operations and we talked a lot about all the various standards for cargo inspections and such

    basically anyone who thinks we should just be checking all the cargo being moved into the US has no idea the scale of that task

    I'll have to dig through some presentations but the amount of cargo we move in this country by plane is absolutely staggering - somewhere north of 40 million tons per year.

    Gooey on
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  • Phoenix-DPhoenix-D Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Plus, ah, its a cargo plane. Yes, it'd suck if it went down, but the loss of life would be relatively minimal.

    Phoenix-D on
  • matt has a problemmatt has a problem Points to 'off' Points to 'on'Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    So it's been confirmed, both packages contained a large amount of PETN, and were designed to be set off by a cell phone call. They were addressed to synagogues in Chicago.

    I wonder if they can check who was looking up the tracking information on the packages for delivery confirmation, since I'm assuming that's how they would've known to make the call to detonate it.

    matt has a problem on
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  • dlinfinitidlinfiniti Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Phoenix-D wrote: »
    Plus, ah, its a cargo plane. Yes, it'd suck if it went down, but the loss of life would be relatively minimal.

    well if it was just explosives maybe, but if they had piggybacked some biomaterial or radiological material onto it, that could make things pretty bad especially if it went off in the air over land

    dlinfiniti on
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