USAFAN
Dec 17, 00, 9:36 am
AIR FARCE ONE: Clinton's jet was so lax at
Birmingham Airport this week that even an impostor with a home-made ID card
could walk up to it...
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/4119735
======================
AIR FARCE ONE
SECURITY around President Clinton’s Air Force One jet was so lax
at Birmingham Airport this week that even an impostor with a
home-made ID card could walk up to it.
I know, because it was me. I was also wearing the uniform I
bought from BA for £140 after I walked in off the street.
More importantly I carried a bag big enough to conceal a grenade
— and there I was within throwing distance of one of the greatest
terrorist targets on Earth.
Yesterday the British and American governments were aghast that
airport bigwigs had failed to learn any lessons from the last time
the News of the World exposed their shoddy procedures.
President Clinton, pictured right leaving
the official plane with Hilary and Chelsea,
was told and a White House spokesman
said: “It is being investigated by the
secret service.”
Meanwhile, John Prescott’s Department of
Transport — responsible for all British
airport security — promised “an
investigation with a view to disciplinary action”.
News of the World readers will recall that, last month, I used the
same uniform and an ID I bought for £10 by mail order to gain
entry to Birmingham and Gatwick and expose gaping holes in
safety procedures.
Following that front page story the government thanked the News
of the World, ordered an immediate inquiry and vowed to tighten
security.
Clearly that wasn’t working at Birmingham. On Thursday this week
I dusted down my uniform.
I had already handed back my pass but kept a copy on an Apple
Mac computer so I just printed another out and put it between two
sheets of clear plastic.
Any terrorist could have done it. Though I thought security staff
might notice the word ‘Kodak’ on the back of the photographic
paper I used!
I made for the same checkpoint at Birmingham International
Airport that I’d used before.
Early that afternoon Air Force One had taxied in to the executive
terminal...right next to the air cargo terminal where I’d first
breached security.
After Clinton had left the airport, I was there again. This time
three officers — two male, one female — were at the kiosk. They
challenged me as I approached.
The female guard looked at me quizically. “I’m going to Hangar
One,” I said, referring to the air cargo terminal.
She asked to see my pass. There had even been a picture of it in
the News of the World, but she seemed satisfied.
One of her colleagues chipped in: “I’ll need to see your ID.” He
looked at it and said: “OK.”
No one put my bag through a scanner. If they had, they’d have
discovered video recording equipment inside.
It could easily have been a more sinister piece of electronics.
In under a minute I was through. Once past the security gate it
took me exactly one minute and 20 seconds to walk across the
tarmac in the direction of Air Force One. I was within 50 yards of
the plane, in full view of the steps leading up to the open door.
Members of the president’s own security staff were dotted around.
I decided to wait until the president returned and see what
happened.
Finally, as I loitered on the tarmac, I was rumbled not by hi-tech
surveillance sytems — but by a News of the World reader!
A Birmingham guard who had read my original story and
recognised me from my picture said: “I know who you are.”
If I’d been an anonymous terrorist whose picture had never been
in the papers, who knows whether I’d have been stopped or not.
Once I’d been caught, airport police were called in and I was
searched. They found the video and I was led away.
When my video was returned it had been edited to cut out scenes
of servicemen’s identities and views of Clinton’s personal items
being loaded on board.
I told police what I was doing and officers were keen to stress I
wasn’t being arrested.
Birmingham International managing
director Brian Summers, left, tried to play
down the security breach — though he did
admit there was LESS security at the
terminal our reporter had continued to
breach.
Mr Summers said: “The general aviation
and hangarage part of Birmingham Airport
is operated seperately from the
passenger aircraft area - the latter having
more stringent security protocol and
search procedures.”
He continued to insist: “Both meet DETR requirements.”
This was the airport where, in my previous visit, I had entered a
jet and an engineer famously asked: “Do you want me to power
her up?” Then he did!
A spokesman for the Department of Transport was forthright this
weekend. Apart from pledging a probe, he added: “The department
takes any suggestion of security weaknesses very seriously."
Washington insiders say the president's security detail is
seething. One told us: “I believe harsh words flew between the
secret service and the security people at Birmingham." Mark
Conley, of the secret service’s Public Affairs Office said: “We are
co-operating with British authorities in investigating how this
happened. All the facts of this incident will be thoroughly
analysed."
[This message has been edited by USAFAN (edited 12-17-2000).]
Birmingham Airport this week that even an impostor with a home-made ID card
could walk up to it...
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/4119735
======================
AIR FARCE ONE
SECURITY around President Clinton’s Air Force One jet was so lax
at Birmingham Airport this week that even an impostor with a
home-made ID card could walk up to it.
I know, because it was me. I was also wearing the uniform I
bought from BA for £140 after I walked in off the street.
More importantly I carried a bag big enough to conceal a grenade
— and there I was within throwing distance of one of the greatest
terrorist targets on Earth.
Yesterday the British and American governments were aghast that
airport bigwigs had failed to learn any lessons from the last time
the News of the World exposed their shoddy procedures.
President Clinton, pictured right leaving
the official plane with Hilary and Chelsea,
was told and a White House spokesman
said: “It is being investigated by the
secret service.”
Meanwhile, John Prescott’s Department of
Transport — responsible for all British
airport security — promised “an
investigation with a view to disciplinary action”.
News of the World readers will recall that, last month, I used the
same uniform and an ID I bought for £10 by mail order to gain
entry to Birmingham and Gatwick and expose gaping holes in
safety procedures.
Following that front page story the government thanked the News
of the World, ordered an immediate inquiry and vowed to tighten
security.
Clearly that wasn’t working at Birmingham. On Thursday this week
I dusted down my uniform.
I had already handed back my pass but kept a copy on an Apple
Mac computer so I just printed another out and put it between two
sheets of clear plastic.
Any terrorist could have done it. Though I thought security staff
might notice the word ‘Kodak’ on the back of the photographic
paper I used!
I made for the same checkpoint at Birmingham International
Airport that I’d used before.
Early that afternoon Air Force One had taxied in to the executive
terminal...right next to the air cargo terminal where I’d first
breached security.
After Clinton had left the airport, I was there again. This time
three officers — two male, one female — were at the kiosk. They
challenged me as I approached.
The female guard looked at me quizically. “I’m going to Hangar
One,” I said, referring to the air cargo terminal.
She asked to see my pass. There had even been a picture of it in
the News of the World, but she seemed satisfied.
One of her colleagues chipped in: “I’ll need to see your ID.” He
looked at it and said: “OK.”
No one put my bag through a scanner. If they had, they’d have
discovered video recording equipment inside.
It could easily have been a more sinister piece of electronics.
In under a minute I was through. Once past the security gate it
took me exactly one minute and 20 seconds to walk across the
tarmac in the direction of Air Force One. I was within 50 yards of
the plane, in full view of the steps leading up to the open door.
Members of the president’s own security staff were dotted around.
I decided to wait until the president returned and see what
happened.
Finally, as I loitered on the tarmac, I was rumbled not by hi-tech
surveillance sytems — but by a News of the World reader!
A Birmingham guard who had read my original story and
recognised me from my picture said: “I know who you are.”
If I’d been an anonymous terrorist whose picture had never been
in the papers, who knows whether I’d have been stopped or not.
Once I’d been caught, airport police were called in and I was
searched. They found the video and I was led away.
When my video was returned it had been edited to cut out scenes
of servicemen’s identities and views of Clinton’s personal items
being loaded on board.
I told police what I was doing and officers were keen to stress I
wasn’t being arrested.
Birmingham International managing
director Brian Summers, left, tried to play
down the security breach — though he did
admit there was LESS security at the
terminal our reporter had continued to
breach.
Mr Summers said: “The general aviation
and hangarage part of Birmingham Airport
is operated seperately from the
passenger aircraft area - the latter having
more stringent security protocol and
search procedures.”
He continued to insist: “Both meet DETR requirements.”
This was the airport where, in my previous visit, I had entered a
jet and an engineer famously asked: “Do you want me to power
her up?” Then he did!
A spokesman for the Department of Transport was forthright this
weekend. Apart from pledging a probe, he added: “The department
takes any suggestion of security weaknesses very seriously."
Washington insiders say the president's security detail is
seething. One told us: “I believe harsh words flew between the
secret service and the security people at Birmingham." Mark
Conley, of the secret service’s Public Affairs Office said: “We are
co-operating with British authorities in investigating how this
happened. All the facts of this incident will be thoroughly
analysed."
[This message has been edited by USAFAN (edited 12-17-2000).]