AND AGAIN – AT 8:53 A.M. ET:  This has the appearance of a test run:

Namibian police have hindered a possible terrorist attack on a flight from Windhoek to Munich, Federal Criminal Police (BKA) said Thursday. A suspected explosive device was found in a piece of luggage discovered as the LTU/Air Berlin flight was being loaded.

X-rays of the suitcase showed batteries connected to a detonator and a running clock. Authorities are examining whether the device could have exploded.

The BKA sent officers based in neighbouring South Africa to the Namibian capital to aid local authorities in the investigation, and plans on sending more help from Germany soon.

Every passenger and piece of luggage on the flight by the charter airline underwent an additional security check before the plane was allowed to take off. It arrived safely in Munich early on Thursday morning with 296 passengers on board.

"Only after the conclusion of an investigation and visual inspection by the BKA will there be information as to whether these were explosives,” the police statement said.

COMMENT:  A later report indicated that there were no explosives.  But if it was a test run, to see if the electronics could be detected, explosives would not be required.  Clearly, batteries connected to a detonator and a running clock could not be construed as a toy, or a substitute for an iPod.

They're out there, and eventually they'll get lucky.

November 18, 2010