‘Piarco bomber’ identity unknown

THE IDENTITY of the person or persons behind the bomb threats against Piarco Inter-national Airport remains unknown. Speaking to reporters following yesterday’s PNM General Council meeting at Balisier House, Works and Transport Minister Franklyn Khan said the authorities have so far been unable to find out who was responsible for those threats. The airport was shutdown for two hours on Thursday night after a series of calls claimed explosive devices were planted on two airlines and in the terminal building itself. Asked if police were any closer to catching the culprit or culprits, Khan said: “No. All we know is there were six calls over a two-hour period and the call was from one person. They (police) weren’t able to trace the call.” The Minister reiterated that operations at Piarco are running smoothly at this time but “we are on the medium to high alert for two to three days.”

“We need to monitor it on a 24-hour basis and when we see the need to step down into normal operations, we will be advised by our security experts at the airport,” he stated. Khan reiterated that he was very satisfied with the efficiency of the airport’s security mechanisms. “I think it goes to show that the airport was very well prepared for eventualities like those. In a mere two hours, they were to able evacuate, do a clean sweep of the entire terminal building and recommence operations,” the Minister said. Khan told Newsday the airport’s existing security mechanisms were created through Government’s ongoing collaboration with the Federal Aviation Authority and the United States Department of Homeland Security. At Thursday’s post-Cabinet meeting, Khan expressed optimism that by April 2004, Piarco would regain the Category One status which it lost under the former UNC government.