Saudi man arrested for carrying firecrackers on flight

[Coriolis]

I read this story yesterday in the Boston Metro, but have found little on the news about it. It's a very strange case indeed.

Boston - A Saudi man was charged on Monday for carrying firecrackers in carry-on luggage on a plane from Germany, to Boston amid United States warnings of a possible attack bigger than the September 11, 2001, hijacked plane strikes, officials said.

US officials in Boston said in a statement that Essam Mohammed Almohandis, 33, of Riyadh had "three small firecracker-type explosive or incendiary devices" in his carry-on luggage on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt on Saturday.

He told authorities at Boston's Logan International Airport that he was on a business trip and that the devices - tubes about 3,5 cm long - were artist crayons, US attorney Michael Sullivan said.

Sullivan said Almohandis then said he did not know what they were or how they got in his backpack, which he told authorities was his only piece of luggage. He also told investigators his wife had packed his bag.

Link to story <A HREF="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=22&art_id=qw1073348286439B226&set_id=1">here</A>

What gives? The guy packs three little firecrackers in his bag, allows it to be searched, and then obviously lies about what they are, changing his story several times. First of all, why would someone carry firecrackers onto an international flight? What would he need them for? I find this very bizzarre.

[ethics]

Very weird indeed! The fact that he lied about them tells me he was up to no good.

[Coriolis]

Perhaps his wife was wanting to get rid of him. If so, her plan worked! The poor sucker will probably spend the next 10-15 years in jail.

[ethics]

I thought that as well, but why lie about it?

[Coriolis]

I don't know, it makes no sense really. Maybe he did have something planned, but chickened out. But what damage could a couple firecrakers do on a flight? Other than scare the passengers, and get the royal shit kicked out of you, I can't imagine too much.

[ethics]

Good point, I have no idea. :(

[Sierra Mike]

Depressurize the aircraft by blasting out a window is one thing.

SM

[Coriolis]

Depressurize the aircraft by blasting out a window is one thing.

SM
Could three small firecrackers blast out a window on an airplane? Seems to me it would be pretty hard to accomplish -- it's not like it's something you could do without being observed setting it up. I suppose the powder in the firecrackers could be used to start a fire, but why carry them as firecrackers, and not in a pill box or something.

Or maybe the guy was just an idiot. :nut:

[Sierra Mike]

Could three small firecrackers blast out a window on an airplane? Seems to me it would be pretty hard to accomplish -- it's not like it's something you could do without being observed setting it up. I suppose the powder in the firecrackers could be used to start a fire, but why carry them as firecrackers, and not in a pill box or something.

Or maybe the guy was just an idiot. :nut:You'd be amazed at how easy it is to blast a window out of an airliner under pressure at cruising altitude. They're double-paned, true, but a concentrated strike in a very small area in the center of the pane would do it. You could do it by holding a pen or housekey against the center of the window and press on it. It'll eventually give.

SM

[IamZed]

You'd be amazed at how easy it is to blast a window out of an airliner under pressure at cruising altitude. They're double-paned, true, but a concentrated strike in a very small area in the center of the pane would do it. You could do it by holding a pen or housekey against the center of the window and press on it. It'll eventually give.

SMHe would have to plug the weep hole near the bottom of the window to transfer deflection from the inner pane to the outer. A dot of superglue would do that though.

[Sierra Mike]

He would have to plug the weep hole near the bottom of the window to transfer deflection from the inner pane to the outer. A dot of superglue would do that though.
Or just use his thumb to keep the hyperbarics constant.

SM

[Copzilla]

Could three small firecrackers blast out a window on an airplane?
The firecrackers of foreign variety aren't like what we have. Ours are regulated to have less impact. These were 3.5 centimeters long... That's a big assed firecracker. Three of them. Might have a significant charge in them, just enough to accomplish a targeted mission.

Just an argument, not saying this is the case, but I'm not sure referring to them as three small firecrackers reflects the potential.

[Coriolis]

The firecrackers of foreign variety aren't like what we have. Ours are regulated to have less impact. These were 3.5 centimeters long... That's a big assed firecracker. Three of them. Might have a significant charge in them, just enough to accomplish a targeted mission.

Just an argument, not saying this is the case, but I'm not sure referring to them as three small firecrackers reflects the potential.
Good point. When I think about firecrackers, I think about those little things we used to light off as kids. Lady fingers, I think they were called. A 3.5 cm firecracker is quite a bit bigger.

[ShinyTop]

For those of us metrically challenged that is almost 1.5 inch. Wonder what the diameter is?

[Robert Harris]

lAs I recall one inch = 2.5 cm. That would make 3.5 cm less than 1.5 inches. That is not bigger. as I recall, than the firecrackers I fremember as being pretty standard.

[Copzilla]

lAs I recall one inch = 2.5 cm. That would make 3.5 cm less than 1.5 inches. That is not bigger. as I recall, than the firecrackers I fremember as being pretty standard.That's about the length of the M80, the ones that were outlawed. A lot would indeed depend on the diameter.

[FrankF]

Depressurize the aircraft by blasting out a window is one thing.
I suppose the powder in the firecrackers could be used to start a fire,
You'd be amazed at how easy it is to blast a window out of an airliner under pressure at cruising altitude.
He would have to plug the weep hole near the bottom of the window to transfer deflection from the inner pane to the outer. A dot of superglue would do that though.
Or just use his thumb to keep the hyperbarics constant.

Remind me to never fly on a plane if you guys are onboard. :)

[ShinyTop]

Sometimes I think everybody has me on ignore. :rolleyes:

[Sierra Mike]

Sometimes I think everybody has me on ignore. :rolleyes:
Did you say something? :haha:

SM

[Neo]

But the Saudis are our friends! :(

[Copzilla]

Sometimes I think everybody has me on ignore. :rolleyes:I was acknowledging your observation, Shiny... I said a lot would INDEED depend on the diameter. :P

[Neo]

For those of us metrically challenged that is almost 1.5 inch. Wonder what the diameter is?

Oh yeah? How many klicks between LA and Miami?

[ShinyTop]

2760 miles or 4442 K between Dodger Stadium and Joe Robby Stadium