Hysteria led to a loud, obnoxious woman on a trans-Atlantic flight with “a tub of handcream that should have been detected” to be put in handcuffs and the plane to be diverted, reports The Times of London:
“Airline passengers throughout the European Union face tougher security measures as part of a seven-point anti-terrorism package outlined after a meeting of interior ministers yesterday. Two key measures are to be discussed by EU transport ministers next week, including extending the British hand baggage restrictions to all member states. The EU is also to look at introducing a requirement on airlines to provide advance information on passengers, as already happens on flights to the United States. The concern over airline security was highlighted yesterday when a United Airlines flight to Washington from Heathrow was diverted after a passenger suffering from claustrophobia caused a security alert. Two F16 fighter jets escorted Flight 0923 to Boston Logan airport after the pilot announced a mid-air emergency. The woman, 59, from Vermont in the US, became disruptive and agitated several hours into the eight-hour flight and argued with a flight steward. A crew-member provided handcuffs and two male passengers sat on either side of her until the Boeing 763 landed.”
The Times also reports on the feelings of the British public about the recent bomb scare and terror arrests:
“A majority of voters support moves by the Government to introduce security screening at airports that focuses on the passengers who pose the greatest risk. A poll in today’s Spectator shows that 55 per cent backed the idea of passenger profiling and only 29 per cent opposed it. The Times disclosed this week that the Government was in talks with airlines about profiling people who behave suspiciously, have unusual travel patterns or, more controversially, are from certain ethnic or religious backgrounds. Half of the 1,700 respondents said that most British Muslims were moderates but 28 per cent disagreed and almost as many said that they did not know.”
Glenda Jackson, a Labour member of Parliament, questions the value of the current widespread anti-Muslim feeling and clamor for profiling in Britain’s Guardian:
“Do ministers really believe the way to convince disaffected young Muslims that our war is with the terrorists, rather than the Islamic faith, is to start body-searching them on the basis of their race and religion? Does the prime minister really believe that Muslim leaders will be able to convince their communities that current investigations are following due process when his home secretary passes verdict on “the main players” before a single person has been charged? And does anyone seriously believe that benefits from blanket profiling will make up for the commensurate breakdown in trust between those who are subject to this scrutiny and the security services who depend on their cooperation to avert future atrocities?”
A BBC report (video) about the bomb plot case claims that “some suspects will be charged,” and that some will “almost inevitably be released.”
[photos: British police on Downing Street by AP; John Reid by AFP]