Large-scale counterterrorism drill staged at Hong Kong airport

More than 200 emergency services and security officers have held a large-scale counterterrorism drill at Hong Kong International Airport to strengthen the city’s response to bomb attacks and incursions from hostage-taking knifemen. Code-named “Ironwill”, officers from police and fire services Read More …

New Zealand: Three years in prison for fake bomb maker

An airport security officer who planted a fake bomb was “cruel” in executing his plan two days after the Christchurch mosque attacks, a judge said. Preetam Prakash Maid (32) appeared in the Dunedin District Court for sentence yesterday and was Read More …

U.S. charges Libyan in 1988 Lockerbie bombing that killed 270

The United States on Monday unsealed criminal charges against a third alleged conspirator in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people, mostly Americans. The suspect, Abu Agila Mohammad Masud Kheir Al-Marimi, a Read More …

Qatar: Hamad International Airport’s new technology allows electronic items to stay in baggage during screening

Hamad International Airport (HIA) will install new airport security screening technology that allows transfer passengers to keep electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, and digital cameras in their hand luggage while going through security checkpoints. The airport says the new Read More …

IATA Launches Aviation Security Intelligence Portal

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched the Security Risk Intelligence Portal (SRIP)—an incident reporting tool to help airlines mitigate and manage security risks. The portal also includes the latest state and airport restrictions and requirements imposed as Read More …

Security experts worry about hand sanitizers on aircraft

Back in 1987, a liquor bottle filled with explosives and placed in a carry-on bag in an overhead bin helped terrorists crash a South Korean airliner. All 115 on board died. Then, in 1994, Al-Qaeda member Ramzi Yousef, architect of Read More …

Wagtail UK launches explosive detection dog services for air cargo

Wagtail UK has achieved government certification to provide explosive detection dog services for the UK air cargo industry. The company said that it had undertaken a “rigorous training programme” set out by the UK government to prepare its Free Running Read More …

Nigeria: Goverment deploys explosive detectors in 15 airports

The Nigerian Federal Government has deployed hi-tech explosive screening equipment at 15 of the 22 airports in the country, the local PUNCH newspaper reported Wednesday, quoting the spokesperson for the aviation parastatal, Mr. Yakubu Dati. Revealing this Tuesday, Dati said Read More …

Air cargo CEOs among new US-UK aviation security group

A new aviation security advisory group with authority to handle highly classified information affecting the trans-Atlantic market will include air cargo executives from private industry. The Transatlantic Aviation Industry Roundtable (TAIR) will serve as a forum in which DHS, its Read More …

Australia: Fake improvised explosive devices slip through regional airport security

Serious security deficiencies have been uncovered at Townsville Airport, with fake bombs passing through screening undetected. In April this year aviation inspectors, with Home Affairs, conducted what is known as red teaming tests. Two fake improvised explosive devices passed through Read More …

IATA Warns Of Aviation Security Risks, Calls For Better Collaboration With Governments

At the IATA Aviation Security Conference (AVSEC World) in Miami, FL, IATA Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac called on governments to work with the aviation industry to ensure greater coordination in aviation security initiatives and warned against a lack Read More …

Resurgent Al-Qaeda plan new series of spectacular attacks against airliners and airports

The terrorist group behind the world trade centre attacks in New York in 2001 are plotting a series of deadly new attacks that are ‘keeping ministers awake at night’. Security Minister Ben Wallace said that Al-Qaeda are planning the attacks on airports Read More …

Five Middle East States to share sensitive aviation security information

Following their presentation of working paper entitled “Sharing of Aviation Security Information Between States” at the Second High-level Conference on Aviation Security (HLCAS/2-WP/2), Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and United Arab Emirates have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) Read More …

DHS S&T, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Host Workshop for Airport Security

The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have facilitated a workshop focusing on the future of airport security. Professionals in the aviation industry convened at the second annual Aviation Security Futures Workshop in Reston, Read More …

Finding explosives in electrical items demonstration day

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and the Future of Aviation Security Solutions (FASS) team will be hosting a demonstration day to showcase the innovations that we have accelerated through the first phase of our ‘Finding Explosives Hidden in Electrical Items’ competition. This is Read More …

US seeks to head off new terrorist threats against air cargo

US security officials have uncovered specific cargo-related terrorist threats against US-bound aircraft, prompting the customs agency to tighten requirements related to air cargo reporting. “[The Department of Homeland Security] has received specific, classified intelligence that certain terrorist organisations seek to Read More …