By Bruno Waterfield - 3rd September 2006
European aviation experts will on Wednesday discuss a classified assessment from EU intelligence agencies on security at Europe’s airports.
The report has been compiled, after an August air terror alert, by Europe’s secret services under the umbrella of the EU’s Brussels Situation Centre and is classified under military secrecy rules.
The document gives an analysis, by Europe’s top counter-terrorism officials, to sweeping extra airport security measures introduced after British police foiled alleged bomb plots to attack transatlantic flights on August 10.
European commission officials, party to the report, indicate that a new security regime is to be proposed for airports across Europe.
But terror risk assessments and some airport measures will remain classified on security grounds, say the sources.
“Measures are being considered, I can not refer to them because they are classified,” said the official. “The measures are talking about are not that far reaching… we can not give all the information.”
Emergency bans on hand luggage and liquids are unlikely in the long-term survive beyond the critical, uncertain period as police smashed an alleged bomb-making operation in London three weeks ago.
Commission officials stress that as police and security agencies get to grips with the threat and possible new risks posed by liquid explosives, action must be based on facts.
“Proportionate measures have to be proposed and based on accurate scientific data. We must ask what is the risk of someone bringing down a plane,” said the official.
“We have to ask if measures are sustainable, we saw the disruption at Heathrow… I am not saying measures taken in London were excessive, if you do not know what you are dealing with in a critical situation you must take measures.”
“We need to use accurate scientific data not speculation.”
The commission is urging the EU to agree common Europe-wide airport security measures, a regime that would not prevent extra emergency action should there be policing developments.
Officials also echo some airlines in warning that draconian, disproportionate or knee jerk measures may hand terrorists a victory by disrupting air travel and everyday life.
“If you are flying out of Heathrow with hand luggage bans and return from Brussels where it is not the same, you the passenger might find it a little strange,” said the official.
“Measures must be proportionate and sensible… We must be careful that by responding with stringent measures we do not allow terrorists to encroach or disrupt everyday life.”
The commission on Monday tabled new proposals seeking to coordinate the development of detection technologies between industry and law enforcement agencies.
Brussels is hosting a October 9 conference on boosting the security of commercial products that can be used as explosive or bomb-making ingredients.
The commission, said officials, is moving towards giving all EU manufactured explosive components a unique chemical fingerprint.
The signature would allow the police to trace and follow the trail after bomb attacks or seizure of explosives.
European justice commissioner Franco Frattini is also set to urge a new EU definition of terrorism includes dissemination of bomb-making expertise.
The German EU presidency in 2007 is already examining proposals to shut down or monitor internet sites suspected of providing technology tips to would be terrorists.
New rules for academics might follow after officials revealed that, “we have a problem with publication of scientific data”.
Commission officials are concerned that some scientific papers have provided a “blueprint for the destruction of society”.
Other technologies under development will scan air passenger to ensure travellers have not become infected by deadly viruses either as result of new flu pandemics or bio-terror attacks.
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