Security at the Manchester Airport came under heavy criticism for believing a pipe bomb in a passenger's luggage was not viable.
Found in Nadeem Muhammad's hand luggage at Manchester Airport by security officers, the device was made of masking tape, batteries, the tube of a marker pen, pins and wires, and placed in the zip lining of his small green suitcase.
The 43 year old was sentenced for 18 years at Manchester Crown Court yesterday after being found guilty for possessing an explosive with intent to endanger life following a trial earlier this month.
The court heard that Muhammad had planned to board a Ryanair flight to Italy, on January 30. Muhammad claimed to have never seen the device before, and said it had nothing to do with him.
Security initially believed the bomb was not viable, and released Muhammad after he was questioned by counter terrorism officers.
Judge Field stated he had been “alarmed by some of the evidence in the case.”
“In these dangerous times it seems to me there's no room for complacency. I express hope that security at the airport and policing at the airport will be subject to a review at the highest level.” The court had heard that the airport staff swabbed the device, which was later found to contain nitroglycerin, but found no trace of explosive and security manager Deborah Jeffrey even put it into her pocket.
Judge Field said, “It occurred to me and I'm sure to others listening to that evidence that by acting that way she put herself, her fellow employees and members of the public at risk.” He said the situation was “compounded” by the police who accepted the assurance that the device was not viable and missed an “early opportunity” to arrest Muhammad. Field sentenced the accused saying he would have “undoubtedly” have carried the bomb on to the plane or into the airport's departure lounge where he would have detonated it.
“If detonated in the confines of the cabin of a commercial aeroplane, this device could have caused not inconsiderable injury and damage to those close to the explosion and this then, on any view, is a particularly, serious and grave offence,” Field said.
