Electronic devices may hide airline threat
Homeland Security officials have told CNN that an advisory will be issued directing the aviation industry and all federal screeners and local authorities to pay particular attention to electronic items like remote key locks, and specific brands and models of cell phones, boom boxes and cameras.
Recent raids of al Qaeda safe houses overseas turned up evidence that the group was trying to modify electronic devices to carry small weapons or explosives, administration officials told CNN. For instance, a camera flash was being modified to convert to, or carry, a stun gun, the officials said.
The discoveries in those hideouts led to the decision last week to warn the aviation sector of possible hijackings.
That warning read in part, "The hijackers may attempt to use common items carried by travelers, such as cameras, modified as weapons."
