Fake iPad bomb plot blamed for electronics ban
Friday, 28 Mar, 2017
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The US led electronics ban, which has come into effect, was prompted in part by a plot to use a fake iPad as a bomb.
The Guardian quotes a security source who said a plot to bring down a jet with explosives hidden inside a fake iPad was discovered.
The device was almost indistinguishable from the real thing, it says.
No other information was disclosed by the source, such as what group had planned an attack, and when and where.
The US Department of Homeland Security had said terrorist groups have been seeking more ‘innovative methods’ to attack planes.
"I understand why a tablet-sized, non-metallic bomb might pose a serious threat, given al-Qaida’s long-established expertise in this area. What confuses me is the scope of the ban," said Shashank Joshi, a defense and intelligence analyst at London’s Royal United Services Institute.
He also questioned whether there were any ulterior motives behind the ban.
"One problem is that the British and American restrictions differ, despite the exceptionally high level of intelligence-sharing between the two on al-Qaida and on counter-terrorism generally. Other western-allied countries have not undertaken the ban at all. This raises questions about why they have arrived at different conclusions, and specifically suspicions as to whether unstated political factors may be influencing the Trump administration."
France is considering joining the ban but has still not yet made a decision.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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