Toys to get extra scrutiny

Airport screeners will check remote control toys, and those carrying them, carefully.

By KEVIN GRAHAM, Times Staff Writer
Published October 2, 2007

Airport security screeners are being ordered to look more closely at remote control toys in carry-on luggage and at the passengers traveling with them, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday.

The new advisory comes as two suspended University of South Florida students await trial on federal explosives charges. One of the men told the FBI that he posted an online video that shows a remote control toy being used as a detonator.

TSA officials say the new policy has nothing to do with the students or any specific incident. They said it stems from information that came out of a "national intelligence estimate" on homeland security released in July.

"The TSA is aware that remote control toys can be used to initiate devices used in terrorist attacks," agency officials said in a statement. "Transportation security officers have trained on this possibility, and travelers may encounter additional screening when bringing remote control devices in carry-on baggage."

Homeland security officials use the NIE reports to adjust their efforts in the fight against terrorism. The TSA says it has been "carefully monitoring" information developed in the law enforcement and intelligence communities related to methods of a possible attack.

Jon Allen, a TSA spokesman in Atlanta, said the agency isn't prohibiting remote control toys on airplanes.

"What we're saying to people is that if you bring a remote control toy through the checkpoint in your carry-on bags, that device will be subject to additional screening," he said. "And the individual themselves could be subject to additional screening."

That includes children, if they bring the toys with them inside the airplane cabin.

In July, USF student Ahmed Mohamed posted a video on YouTube that explained how to transform a toy remote controlled car into a detonator, authorities said. FBI agents said Mohamed admitted making the 12-minute video and uploading it on the Internet.

Mohamed, 26, said he made the tape to help people in Arab countries defend themselves against the "infidels invading their countries." He regards American troops and U.S. allies as invaders of Arab countries, the FBI said.

Mohamed and fellow student Youssef Megahed, 21, remain in a Hillsborough County jail on federal explosives charges. The pair will go before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizza at the Tampa federal courthouse for an arraignment Wednesday.

Kevin Graham can be reached at (813) 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 2, 2007, 00:15:45]