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Body Scanners – update

I've written previously about the Austrian professor who smuggled explosives and detonators through a body scanner on German TV – here's the footage (in German, obviously) – our hero goes into the machine at 0:44 and he sets off the stuff he smuggled through at 7:25:

I'll be debating the issue on BBC Breakfast News at 0715 on Monday.

By Alex Deane

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Alex Deane Posted in Body Scanners
  • http://alastairs-place.net alastair

    Make sure you point out that, *even if* these things worked (clearly they don’t, as this chap has demonstrated), it’s all pointless anyway, since a terrorist could just as easily blow-up the airport instead.
    Security at airports should be a sensible balance, and we’ve lost that fact somewhere along the line.
    Oh, also, Bruce Schneier is an interesting read on this kind of thing; he refers to the entire nonsense as “Security Theater”. If you haven’t already seen it, take a look at his blog, here:
    http://www.schneier.com

  • Sandy

    Alex would you like me to do a transcript for you? I can have it for you tomorrow evening.

  • LeChiffre

    Re “Security Theater”
    The US Transport Security Administration (“TSA”) has been referred to as “Thousands Standing About” and as “eye candy”.

  • http://freedom-2-choose.blogspot.com/ TheBigYin

    I must watch on Monday Alex, should be interesting.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/alexdeane Alex Deane

    Sandy that would be BRILLIANT
    Yes please watch guys!!

  • Sandy

    Transcript of above footage.
    You mean that this system detects anything between the skin and the clothes? But anything that is underneath the skin cannot be detected?
    So, what is all this about?
    Professor.
    It is a passive information whereas its between infrared and microwave detection and when the body gets hot is produces infrared signals..apart from that your body emits microwave signals,which is detected by the machine.
    Let me show you.
    I have a moble telephone in my pocket that will stop the machine penetrating the signals into my body.
    Host.
    O:K: If thats the case lets try and see what the machine can detect.
    Please come over.
    From outside we can see the mobile and see please if there is anything else apart from the mobile.
    Question
    What else have you on your body.
    Professor
    I have a black knife
    Englishman explanation in English…
    The black knife has not shown up on the screen?
    Explanation why not? reply in English
    Englishman points and explains…
    Professor
    Look, in my mouth a piece here and here I have Thermite … a substance that can burn upto 4000ºC
    Question
    And anything else?
    Professor
    Removes a plaster from his leg with a glass file containing the burning activator.
    ‘All these items I have were not detected. Why did you not see these on the screen?’
    Englishman answers…..
    Question
    Where did you get this equipment and how easy is it to find?
    Professor
    Oh’ by the way I have a lighter in my pocket that has also not been detected.
    Englishman answers…
    We cannot detect things in the mouth its got to be between the skin and the clothes..
    in the airport you would not be wearing a jacket and we would have different body positions.
    Question
    If your telling me that the one in the mouth and the ones which are under the skin …is this a false information or the machine is not capable of detecting?
    Englishman answers…
    No system is perfect.
    We have never said the system is perfect. there are always hiccups in the system.
    When under the skin or if you bandage it or cover it up you cannot see that item either. Never the less this is a good unit not 100% but a good thing to have.
    Reply from one of the guests.
    Well, we are talking about logic now, we are not giving here 100% accuracy or foolproof.
    I will sign saying its a system but not reliable. We always think additional security to compliment this.Modern technology is a help but it is not 100%…other systems are required to compliment what this cannot do.
    An example…you cannot say I have modern technology and leave my doors open and hope that this system will protect my house.
    Applause.
    Host
    Right we are going to close this debate here and please show us what you carried with you is capable of doing.
    All leave studio.
    Explain what you have Professor.
    1) Inflamable liquid.
    2) Thermite…is a CSL substance that burns at 4000ºC.
    I bought it from a chemist or you can buy it in a DIY store available to anyone.
    Places products in a pan adds inflamable liquid.
    Host
    We are not going to discuss the recipe.
    Before the Professor sets light to the liquid he asks everyone to please move away.
    He reminds us that these products can be bought in a chemist.
    The heat is now over 3000ºC.
    You cannot put this out with water, add water and this will spread.
    It has burnt through the pan and if you have a boeing 747 it will burn through the floor and straight through to the hull.
    Host
    This is not funny. This could happen and this machine did not detect any of these items.
    Today ,when you fly they stop you taking any liquids. On the otherside what you can take on board is undetectable.
    This is a professor but could have been a terrorist.
    Anybody on the Internet is capable of buying this and achieving the same impact.
    This is ironic, that anyone, can go to any chemist buy these products and not be detected going through a scanner but they stop you taking a bottle of water.
    Host jest about Professor.
    I would not like to travel with this Professor with all his knowledge. The law at the moment is no water or liquids on planes. After the Detroit disaster there is a new system called Lock On that will be applied here.

  • Karen Mcghee

    Whats the next step full body strip searches before you can go on holiday,i wouldnt put it past them

  • http://profile.typepad.com/alexdeane Alex Deane

    sandy you’re a STAR