Explosives Smuggled During Airport Tests

Wednesday, November 14th 2007, 6:02 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) - Government investigators smuggled liquid explosives and detonators past airport security, exposing a dangerous hole in the nation's ability to keep these forbidden items off of airplanes, according to a report made public Wednesday.

The investigators learned about the components to make an improvised explosive device on the Internet and purchased the parts at local stores, according to the report by the Government Accountability Office. These covert tests were conducted at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at 19 airports in March, May and June of this year.

In August 2006, the TSA changed its screening policies after officials foiled a plot to use liquid explosives to blow up commercial airlines headed toward the U.S.