Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download MP3
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab began his journey in Lagos, Nigeria. But he made the connection to the US in the Netherlands at the Dutch airport, Schipol, Amsterdam. An investigation is underway there to figure out how he got through. Hans de Vreij is security editor for Radio Netherlands. Anchor Katy Clark speaks with Hans de Vreij about airport security.
Read the Transcript
This text below is a phonetic transcript of a radio story broadcast by PRI’s THE WORLD. It has been created on deadline by a contractor for PRI. The transcript is included here to facilitate internet searches for audio content. Please report any transcribing errors to theworld@pri.org. This transcript may not be in its final form, and it may be updated. Please be aware that the authoritative record of material distributed by PRI’s THE WORLD is the program audio.
KATY CLARK: Abdul Mutallab began his journey in Lagos, Nigeria. But he made the connection to the US in the Netherlands at Schipol airport in Amsterdam. And investigation is underway there to figure out how he got through. Hans de Vreij is security editor for Radio Netherlands. He says security at Schipol is tight, especially for flights to the United States.
HANS DE VREIJ: Ever since 9-11 there has been additional checks of passengers before they actually board. So as a passenger you would go to the check-in gate, go through customs, go through a metal detector, then you go to the different gates and at the gate there will be a second check, usually involving a US functionary as well where people again have to go through a metal detector and have their hand luggage checked, etcetera. That has been the routine ever since 9-11. Now on top of that Schipol airport I know has begun hand search or frisking each and every passenger and have asked them to check in their hand luggage as well. So you would not be allowed to bring a bag on board but you will be allowed for instance to bring a newspaper or some snacks or what have you.
KATY: So how did this alleged bomber get through the security system?
HANS: Simply because metal detectors do not detect anything witch doesn’t have metals in it such as the type of explosive substance used in this case. These things can only be seen with a so-called full-body scan, in technical terms millimeter wave technology, also called backscatter x-ray. At Schipol airport there are these machines, which are terribly costly, but US authorities have some problem with the machines because they infringe on privacy laws. Actually what happens, I myself went through one of those machines. You stand naked in front of the person checking you. And it’s the only way in which security personnel at airports can see whether anyone has hidden on his or her body anything not made of metal, which could be used to hijack an airplane or indeed to make it explode.
KATY: So Hans, if you’re not using these full body scans for everybody does frisking help? I mean how much will that find?
HANS: That would, if the personnel of the security company does his or her job well, you can find almost anything but then we come to the next step. And you are probably aware of what happens in high security prisons where also body cavities are searched. And I’m quite sure that airline companies wouldn’t want their passengers to go through that. I think that would be the limit. But no one can guarantee that a terrorist would not hide a non-ferule explosive material inside his or her body. And there you have a problem.
KATY: It’s now known that this alleged bomber was on a terrorist watch list in the UK and he was also on a watch list here in the United States. Would the Dutch authorities normally have that information? And if so does that trigger any special precautions?
HANS: No, the Dutch security and intelligence service would not have the same information. But what happens routinely is that each and every passenger list is submitted to the US authorities, more in particular to the US intelligence community. And the list is okayed or not okayed. In other words the US can indicate whether a person can fly to the US from Schipol airport or not. I do know that the Office of the National Counter-terrorism Coordinator, which is the central body flying terrorism into the Netherlands, has published the fact that the list was submitted and that a green light was given in time.
KATY: Hans de Freij is security editor for Radio Netherlands. Thank you very much.
HANS: Okay, bye.
Copyright ©2009 PRI’s THE WORLD. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to PRI’s THE WORLD. This transcript may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior written permission. For further information, please email The World’s Permissions Coordinator at theworld@pri.org.
Discussion
One comment for “Airport security in The Netherlands”