Explosives Detected at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 is now on full security alert after a bomb was found inside a car parked at Parking Lot B inside the airport complex in the early morning of September 1, 2014.
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| Image Source: Wikimedia |
Six to eight improvised explosives were discovered inside a dirty-white Revo AUV with plate number WMK 129. Three suspects were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) and the NBI's Counter-Terrorism Division (NBI-CTD) as the suspects were being assembled. The arresting officers also seized firearms from the suspects. The NBI had received a tip about a potential attack last month prior to being informed that the suspects were in the NAIA premises on Sunday night. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that NBI operatives followed the vehicle the suspects were in all the way to NAIA at 1am. The NBI also uncovered a manifesto that highlighted other targets such as the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the DMCI Main Office, and the Chinese Embassy.
The motives were later traced to a group that was dismayed by the Philippine government's handling of the country's territorial disputes with the People's Republic of China. One of the suspects denied that they would bomb NAIA itself. Instead, the suspect stated that they were targeting offices and establishments operated by Chinese officials.
Although there have been no disruptions to flight operations and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, it has increased the presence of plain clothes and uniformed airport security personnel at the entrance of the airport, and ordered the deployment of K-9 units.
The enhanced security measures are aimed at detecting possible explosive devices that may be carried inside the airport complex. An emergency meeting was also called by the Manila International Airport Authority together with the Philippine National Police (including representatives from the Pasay and Parañaque police divisions), the Aviation Security Group, and the Office for Transportation Security (OTS).
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that the alert level in airports across the country has been heightened. Consequently, airports in other parts of the country have also been tightened. For instance, reports surfaced that the Mactan Cebu International Airport has ordered that passengers remove their shoes at the check in desks and security staff have become stricter in screening larger pieces of baggage. Aviation authorities stated that passengers who refuse to undergo a security search could be refused boarding.
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| Image Source: NBC News |
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that the alert level in airports across the country has been heightened. Consequently, airports in other parts of the country have also been tightened. For instance, reports surfaced that the Mactan Cebu International Airport has ordered that passengers remove their shoes at the check in desks and security staff have become stricter in screening larger pieces of baggage. Aviation authorities stated that passengers who refuse to undergo a security search could be refused boarding.
Source: GMA News, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer, NBC News
Its horrible how people use bombs today.
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