U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies say terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State, may have developed the capability to implant explosives into laptops in a way that can evade airport security screening, according to a report Friday.
U.S. intelligence that detected the security vulnerability influenced the Trump administration’s decision to ban laptops in carry-on bags from 10 airports in eight Middle Eastern and African countries, CNN reported. The network said U.S. intelligence suggests that terrorists have stolen airport security equipment and are using it to test whether their bombs can be detected.
The Department of Homeland Security would not react to the report directly, but did say information it had gathered suggests that terrorist groups are continuing to target airplanes with explosive devices in electronics.
“As a matter of policy, we do not publicly discuss specific intelligence information,” DHS said. “However, evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in electronics. The U.S. government continually reassesses existing intelligence and collects new intelligence. This allows DHS and the [Transportation Security Administration] to constantly evaluate our aviation security processes and policies and make enhancements to keep passengers safe. To that end, we use a robust security system that employs multiple layers of security, both seen and unseen.”
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., a veteran of the Air Force, told CNN that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the Trump administration’s limited ban “spreads to all international flights or even domestic flights.”
