Man On Run At Munich Airport After 'Explosive Traces' Found On Laptop

[Purveyor]

A man was on the run at Munich airport tonight after traces of explosive were reportedly found on the laptop he was carrying as hand luggage.

Initial police reports said the man fled after security controllers asked to re-examine his laptop when they suspected it contained explosive substances.

Initial reports said the laptop had been seized, but police later said the man had fled with it in his possession.

Terminal two of Munich airport was cleared of staff and passengers, who were checked before being allowed to leave.

Passengers were forced to disembark from planes waiting on the runway and 60 flights were either delayed or cancelled.

Around 200 police officers were sent into the secured area to search for the man.

Later, a police spokesman said it could not be ruled out that the security alarm may have been triggered by a man who was late for his plane and whose luggage contained other chemical substances, such as perfumes, which can resemble explosives.

More...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/20/munich-airport-laptop-explosives

[dgibby]

1. Well, if it was only perfume, why would he run? n/t

[brendan120678]

2. One of my coworkers set off the explosives detector...

at an airport during a business trip once.

Of course, my company deals with explosives all the time, so it isn't really unusual that a small trace amount of residue may have been on his shoe or other article of clothing.

[mainer]

3. more disturbing story: my friend with TNT on clothes got through fine

He works with explosives all the time and had just finished blowing up some granite, so he had explosive residue all over his clothes. His wife works security at the airport, and he wanted to see if the sensors would pick him up. They didn't register a thing.