Body Bomber?

It is reported that a 23-year-old Al Qaeda suicide bomber was able to smuggle up to a pound of explosives hidden within his rectum past layers of Saudi security and detonate his body bomb near the Saudi deputy interior minister in charge of counterterrorism operations. The government official survived the blast with minor injuries. The attack employed a technique long employed by drug smugglers. Others report that the bomber had instead hidden the explosives in his underwear.

Homeland Security Today reports that counterterrorists have in fact been aware of Al Qaeda's experimentation with internal and other forms of bomb concealment methods for more than a year.

Three years ago, the magazine noted, an Iraqi national was found to have electrical wires and a magnet inside his rectum, sparking a security scare at Los Angeles International.

The metals triggered the boarding gate metal detector, and upon finding the wires, officials on the scene initially feared they were part of a bomb that the man had hidden in his rectum.

The individual was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation - his green card reportedly had expired and he had prior arrests. While federal officials haven't elaborated on the circumstances of his bizarre behavior, it did cause some federal counterterrorism authorities to wonder whether the incident was part of an effort to determine what sort of materials could be concealed in one's body and snuck past airport security stations.

Two Men Spark Terror Alarm

It is reported that authorities removed two men from a United Airlines flight at Los Angeles International for suspicious behavior on Sept. 28, but later called the incident a false alarm. The men, who were said to be from a Middle Eastern country, were taken off the flight, after members of the flight crew said they were behaving suspiciously. But an FBI spokeswoman said the men were cooperative during interviews and agents determined that they posed no threat. Concerns were raised when one of the men got up to use the plane's restroom just before takeoff, ignoring orders from the flight crew to remain in his seat. The two men were allowed to continue their journey on a later flight.

More Tools to Screen Powder

Because certain powders can be used in improvised explosive devices, TSA is deploying powder explosives detection kits to airports around the country to enhance existing explosives detection capabilities. The agency said that while common powders are not prohibited on aircraft, a small percentage may require additional screening. Typical security checkpoint procedures will remain the same. The vast majority of commonly carried powders, like most medication, infant formula and makeup, are unlikely to need further screening, TSA added.

Continental Sends Boarding Passes to Cell Phones

Continental passengers in Philadelphia who go to the airline's Web site within 24 hours of their flights can now get their boarding passes e-mailed to cell phones or personal digital assistants, like a BlackBerry or Palm. The paperless boarding pass has an encrypted tamper-proof bar code, identifying the passenger, and the usual information - flight number, seat assignment, gate, and departure time. Continental debuted the paperless boarding pass in December 2007, in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Since then, more than 850,000 Continental customers have used it. Five airlines now offer the option, including American, Delta, Northwest and Alaska Airlines, at 35 U.S. airports.

AA: First to Collection Secure Flight Data

American Airlines will start meeting the Transportation Security Administration's Secure Flight requirements by collecting passenger information at the point of sale. The airline is the first major carrier to make such an announcement. Passengers will be asked to provide their names as they appear on their government-issued identification, along with gender and date of birth in an effort to help identify travelers not on the government's "no fly" list and to enhance safety. TSA expects all domestic carriers to collect the required information under the Secure Flight program by the end of 2010.

Erroll Southers Nominated as TSA Assistant Secretary

Erroll Southers currently serves as the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department Assistant Chief for Homeland Security and Intelligence, where he helps to manage the largest airport police department in the country. He is also associate director at the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events at the University of Southern California. Prior to joining the University of Southern California faculty, Southers' public safety career included service as deputy director of homeland security for the state of California and positions at every level of government, ranging from an officer with the Santa Monica Police Department to special agent with the FBI.