Judge criticises airport security as he jails pipe bomb smuggler

A JUDGE has criticised airport security for making an “erroneous and potentially dangerous” conclusion that a pipe bomb found in a passenger’s luggage was not “viable”.

Security staff failed to detect that the bomb contained the high explosive nitroglycerine and one even put the device in her pocket.

It was found in Nadeem Muhammad’s hand luggage at Manchester Airport as he prepared to board a Ryanair flight to Italy.

The 43-year-old was jailed for 18 years at Manchester Crown Court yesterday after being found guilty of possessing an explosive with intent to endanger life following a trial earlier this month.

The court heard Muhammad, of Tinline Street, Bury, planned to board the Ryanair flight on January 30. Security officers found masking tape, batteries, a tube of a marker pen, pins and wires, in the lining of his suitcase.

Judge Patrick Field QC said Muhammad would “undoubtedly” have carried the bomb on to the plane where he would have detonated it.

Muhammad claimed that he had never seen the device before and had nothing to do with him. The court heard that airport security initially believed the bomb was not viable and, after being questioned by counter terrorism officers, Muhammad, who was born in Pakistan but had an Italian passport, was released.

Judge Field said: “In these dangerous times it seems to me there’s no room for complacency. I express hope that security and policing at the airport will be subject to a review at the highest level.”

The court had heard that airport staff swabbed the device, later found to contain nitroglycerine, but found no trace of explosives. Deborah Jeffrey, terminal three security manager, initially put the device in her pocket.

Judge Field said: “It occurred to me that by acting that way she put herself, employees and the public at risk.”

He said the situation was “compounded” by police who accepted the device was unviable and missed an “early opportunity” to arrest Muhammad, who was allowed to board a flight to Italy five days later and another back to the UK before his arrest on Feb 12.

The court heard there was no evidence Muhammad, who had no previous convictions, had a terrorist connection.