Hidden film shows bomb risk at Paris airport: Union

Paris, Nov 15: A union representing Paris airport workers said a film apparently showing a block of clay being smuggled on to an aircraft demonstrated how easy it would be for terrorists to get plastic explosives onto a plane.

The claim comes as seven Muslim airport workers including two from Chronopost -- the freight unit of French post office operator La Poste -- await a court decision on their appeal against being stripped of their work passes because they were considered a security risk.

''It shows anyone can pass whatever they want on to the secure area,'' said Haziz Faddel, a representative of the CGT union at Chronopost, commenting on the film which was seen by Reuters Television yesterday.

Airport security, which underwent a fundamental transformation after September 11, 2001, returned to the media spotlight in August when British police said they had foiled a plot to blow up airplanes flying to the United States.

The union is supporting the workers and also wants to see private sector contractors banned from airport security roles.

A preliminary ruling is expected today.

Faddel said the film, which he said was shot by workers and a journalist working undercover on September 14, showed lapses in security far more serious than those supposedly presented by the men whose passes were revoked.

''It's not a question of individuals, it's a question of management that doesn't apply airport security rules,'' he said.

Authorities have not elaborated on the nature of the risk posed by the men, citing security concerns.

Chronopost declined to comment on the film.

The issue has been particularly sensitive in France where security issues have been intertwined with debate over integrating the country's large Muslim population.

'...They're on the Runway'

The film, shown to Reuters Television, shows men entering a site which the union says is the Chronopost area at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and then handing a package from a non-secure area containing the works canteen into what appears to be the secure area with direct access to aircraft.

''There, they've passed something over the rail and they've apparently handed over a piece of modelling clay which could be semtex or explosive,'' said Faddel, commenting on the shaky night time images in a Reuters television studio.

''There, they're on the runway, look, they're going towards the aircraft...there's the hold and there you are, you're in the aircraft and it's done.'' Faddel said the Chronopost workers had repeatedly warned management and the police of the gaps in security.

He said holes in the fences separating secure from non-secure areas and slack oversight of workers including scores of temporary staff were among several gaps that made a mockery of the strict security checks imposed on passengers.

''When you see that it's possible to film in there, it means you can get anything you want in,'' he said.

Reuters