Washington, D.C.
Intelligence officials have told airport screeners to watch for suspicious pillows, overcoats, and stuffed animals, because al Qaida terrorists may be able to transform the material inside into bombs, The Washington Post reported this week. Counterterrorism officials believe that al Qaida is trying to manufacture a chemical called nitrocellulose, a volatile mixture of cotton and nitric acid or sulfuric acid. If dried carefully, the substance is odorless and could be disguised as something as innocuous as pillow stuffing. Credible sources have said that al Qaida trainees learn to cram the material into makeshift bombs. Homeland Security officials said they were already on the lookout. “Our screening procedures call for the full scrutiny of jackets, pillows, and toys,” a spokesman said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 – 21 NovemberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
Can the UK do more on climate change?Today's Big Question Labour has shown leadership in the face of fraying international consensus, but must show the public their green mission is ‘a net benefit, not a net cost’
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will US Catholics rebel against the Pope?Podcast Plus what are the ethics of freezing your late partner?
