New ‘underpants bomb’ raises fears over London Olympics security

THE London Olympics is facing a new threat following the discovery of a more sophisticated “underpants bomb” designed to evade airport scanners.

Experts at the FBI were last night analysing the device found in the Arabian Peninsula and believed to be the work of al-Qaeda in Yemen.

They are examining whether the bomb, which did not contain metal, was capable of getting past airport security and exploding on a commercial flight.

It is expected the Home Office will be privy to their findings and any new updated requirements will be passed to UK airports via the Department for Transport.

Airport sources say modern security scanners are far more sophisticated than mere metal detectors. They include millimetre wave scanners, which use whole-body imaging to spot anything hidden under clothing, and X-ray scanners that can detect hard and soft materials.

They also employ covert behavioural analysts, in addition to the visible security staff, to watch passengers.

However, experts warn that the more sophisticated scanners are still rare and too expensive to install in every airport.

Professor Hans Michels, an explosives expert at Imperial College, believes the bomb represents a major breakthrough for al-Qaeda.

“The main explosives now being used are more of the type used by the military and heavy industry,” he said.

“They must also have an improved ignition system with no metal parts, and they are also smaller, so detecting it becomes infinitely more difficult.”

He added: “There are very limited numbers of high-definition scanners. If you want to come to the Olympic Games, there’s a vast range of places you can fly into. We would have to source so many that we could not afford it.

“That is why we will have to rely on background and intelligence information – from what I can see, that is what happened in Yemen.”

That device was an upgrade of the underwear bomb that failed to detonate aboard a jetliner over Detroit in Christmas 2009.

It is not clear who built the explosive, but because of its sophistication and its similarity to the Christmas Day device, authorities suspect master bombmaker Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri.

The Home Office has extensive and well-publicised security plans for the Olympics, including surface-to-air missiles and aircraft carriers, creating a “ring of steel” around London.

However, it declined to comment on the specific threat from al-Qaeda’s latest weapon.

A spokesman said: “The focus of the government and everyone involved is to deliver a safe and secure Olympics and Paralympic Games. We are working to a robust and comprehensive safety and security strategy.

“We want to reassure everyone that we will leave nothing to chance in our aim to deliver a Games that London, the UK and the whole world will enjoy.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman added: “Scottish police forces are working closely with airport operators to ensure that airport security remains at the highest level during the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games.”