Dubai: A powerful bomb sent through FedEx and found in an air cargo facility here travelled on two regular Qatar Airways passenger flights before being detected in Dubai.
Sunday, a Qatar Airways source confirmed the bomb, hidden in a printer cartridge, travelled on its regular passenger services from Sana’a to Doha, then on to Dubai.
A second bomb was found in a UPS plane at the East Midland Airport in the United Kingdom. The bombs, addressed to Chicago-area synagogues, have sparked a worldwide security alert on air cargo. The bombs contained PETN, a highly explosive substance, and mobile phone circuitry.
With word that one package travelled on regular passenger services, security and officials worldwide said they will be reviewing the practice.
Radio 2: Nasreen Abdulla gives an update on the bomb found in Dubai
Audio supplied by 99.3 106 Radio 2
In Yemen, security forces continued to detain suspects in the plot after a woman, Hanan Al Samawi, was arrested on Saturday.
Late last night, the 24-year-old Hanan was released, her father Mohammad Ahmad Al Samawi, confirmed to Gulf News.
A security source told the German Press Agency DPA that Hanan “was released after investigations showed that she was the wrong person.”
News agency AFP, quoting a Yemeni official, however, said Hanan was released on condition she make herself available for further questioning.
The computer engineering student at Sana’a University was tracked down through a mobile number written on the explosives filled packages, Yemeni officials said.
The UAE will continue to accept air cargo packages from Yemen, the General Civil Aviation Authority confirmed Sunday.
It also said it was satisfied there was no link between the bombs’ discoveries on Friday and the September 3 crash of a UPS cargo plane at a military camp near the Dubai-Al Ain highway.
— With inputs from Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
