Radwan Mourtada from Al-Akhbar put dynamite sticks and hand grenades in his car and roamed around Beirut, visiting malls and passing by Army and Hezbollah checkpoints in Dahieh. He wanted to test the efficiency of these bomb detectors that we see almost everywhere in Lebanon now but as expected none of them detected the explosives even though they were put in the front and not hidden in the trunk.
To be honest, I don’t think it was necessary to do that experiment as it is well known that these bomb detectors don’t work and the guy behind them was put in jail 3 years ago. Moreover, it could have ended badly for the journalist in question as that’s not the smartest thing to do at the moment.
On a different note, I’ve heard that there are few areas in Lebanon and one mall (City Mall If I am not mistaken) that use sophisticated bomb scanners that are efficient but cost way more than the small useless ones. Radwan did mention he spotted a more advanced bomb detected in Dahieh but it was useless like the others. Unfortunately he didn’t film anything or at least didn’t upload any videos so we can’t really tell what he saw or where he went.
What is sure is that the Ministry of Interior needs to take out all these defective bomb detectors ASAP from the market and penalize those who still are using them. I think most businesses, mainly malls, can afford to spend few extra dollars to buy decent bomb detectors or get trained dogs.
You can read the full article [Here].
I was waiting for something like this to happen…either an experiment or a person actually exploding a car at a mall. Thankfully the only thing that happened was a news story and a guy taking a huge risk. If this is publicized properly it would be embarrassing and hopefully might get some people to change their minds about what “tools” they use. If there is still a market for a radio antenna nailed to a stick and posing as a bomb detector then I am in the wrong field!!!
The only good thing I could see from these fake detectors is that perhaps some average (or less than average) idiot wanting to bomb something might not know the ineffectiveness of such “technology” and be deterred-security theater.
Real explosive detectors are using mass spectrum. One society in the USA is manufacturing such a device that can scan with laser about 500 m circumference but its costs about 30millions dollars. I was nearly forgetting one Lebanese is a major stockholder of this company and the Us army is one of its costumers.
these machines work normally on perfume they detect it try putting a lot of perfume a bottle in the car and try passing by one of those scam machines and u will be stopped
I was going to Beirut Souks, to attend Ziad Rehbani concert. On the parking entrance, the guy with the notorious machine, passed by and it beeped. 5 seconds later, i was surrounded by officers, cops and dogs -.-
” Sir, do you have any guns or explosives in the car?”
-Euhmm no? i am just here to enjoy the concert with my girlfriend
– recheck him
*beep beep*
-Sir, am gonna have to ask you to step out of the car and open it for us please
-O.o Hmm what’s in those cases sir?
– 200 years old Violin
-and that bag?
– My clothes
-and that one?
-2 laptops, an iPad and their chargers
-Please take it out sir and open it for us.
–
– recheck the car
… no beeping
-Get the dogs to check the bag
…. no barking
-Hmmm my apologizes sir. Hope you enjoy the concert!
-Yes sure, thank you… ya3tikon el 3afye
Well done bomb detector… well done