| The Philippine authorities are stepping up screening procedures at airports for terrorists who could be trying to avoid detection to board planes with explosives,officials said Monday. "Methods involving the use of liquid explosives and simple timing devices as used by the terrorists operating out of the Philippines are indicative of the variety of tactics that may develop," said a security directive of Manila airport. "The possibility of terrorists, or persons with criminal or other motivation, intent on attacking aviation, carrying explosives internally must also be considered," it added. The memorandum suggested that militants could use methods "similar to the technologies used by drug couriers," such as swallowing or even surgically implanting packets of narcotics in their bodies or the bodies of their pets to avoid detection at airports. Security checks have been stepped up by aviation authorities, including x-rays, body searches and also bomb sniffing dogs. |