Thread: Fake Bomb Detectors in Attacked Pakistani Airport Used By Thai Army

Fake Bomb Detectors in Attacked Pakistani Airport Used By Thai Army

BANGKOK – The Royal Thai Army has a history of using the same counterfeit bomb detectors that were reportedly used by security forces at the Pakistani airport attacked by armed militants on Sunday.



Ten Taliban commandos, armed with suicide vests, grenades, and automatic weapons, made it past checkpoints at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport late Sunday night and waged an extended battle against security forces that left at least 28 people dead.
According to The Guardian, the security officers who guarded the outer perimeter of the airport used versions of the fake bomb-detecting device sold by a British businessman to Thailand several years ago.
James McCormick and his company sold thousands of the phony detectors at extortionate prices to countries such as Iraq, Pakistan, and Thailand.
Mr. McCormick, who was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 10 years in jail, claimed the devices could detect a wide range of substances, such as explosives or narcotics, by analysing molecular components from a distance. Mr. McCormick's company told customers that the long dials attached to the detectors would swing and point to any suspicious materials.
In reality, the devices were completely ineffectual and based on $20 golf-ball finders that Mr. McCormick had purchased in the United States.
For several years, Thai soldiers used a version of Mr. McCormick's phoney bomb detectors, called GT200, in the southern border provinces where separatist unrest has claimed more than 6,000 lives since the latest wave of violence broke out in 2002.
According to media reports, the Thai army started buying the detectors in 2008. Similar versions of the detectors, called ALPHA, were also purchased and distributed to the Royal Thai Police for drug searches.
It is estimated that the GT200s cost Thai taxpayers more than 630 million baht and led Thai security forces to arrest innocent individuals, while letting a number of people with real bombs pass through checkpoints undetected.
Following the news of massive bomb attacks in Baghdad in late 2009, where security forces employed devices similar to the GT200 to search for car bombs, skeptics in Thailand started to question the validity of the detectors.
Jessada Denduangboripant, a scientist at Chulalongkorn University, spearheaded a movement on social media that called for a scientific test of the GT200 devices. After initial resistance, the Thai authorities conceded and conducted the test in early 2010. The result established the GT200's accuracy to be as good as random chance.
Then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva eventually ordered the suspension of GT200 devices across the country. However, top army leaders and security officials continued to defend the devices long after the test.
Among them was Central Institute of Forensic Science director, Pornthip Rojanasunand, who told the press that the scientific test that debunked the GT200 did not matter because the devices "were not scientific tools" in the first place.
“GT200 is not scientific either, it depends on the operators. The officials of the CIFS have used it with great efficiency,” Ms. Pornthip was quoted as saying in February 2010.
Ms. Pornthip, a vocal supporter of the protests against the previous government, is reportedly being considered for the job of Minister of Justice in the future army-appointed interim government. Ms. Pornthip recently told the press she is willing to accept the job, if offered.
Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, army chief and leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, also defended the GT200 as late as 2013.
“So far the army has used it and it works. Maybe it’s confidence,” Gen. Prayuth told Thai media in July 2012.
In an interview to the press in 2013, Gen. Prayuth asked the public to stop criticizing the devices, and admitted that some security officers still used GT200 in their field operation "because there is no alternative."
No official has ever been held accountable in court for purchases of GT200 bomb detectors.


Fake Bomb Detectors in Attacked Pakistani Airport Used By Thai Army=

Thanks for posting this news item. It brings back for a re-run one of the most absurd fiascoes I can recall here. I especially like reading about the Central Institute of Forensic Science director, Pornthip Rojanasunand and her profound wisdom in supporting the use of these devices. Perfect person for the job.

The sad part is the cost in human lives and injury that relying on these useless devices is causing, and then there is the absolute waste of money.

Originally Posted by Bangyai

In an interview to the press in 2013, Gen. Prayuth asked the public to stop criticizing the devices, and admitted that some security officers still used GT200 in their field operation "because there is no alternative."
No official has ever been held accountable in court for purchases of GT200 bomb detectors.

Obviously, between then an now an angel of the lord hath appeared before General Prayuth and told him to mend his ways and lead the country to a new corruption free era



I still remember him and Anupong ( buddies ) appearing on television with stern faces maintaining there was nothing wrong with the deal and they were going ahead with it regardless of any findings.

The thing about the GT200, did none of these countries ever think of holding it over a bomb to see if it worked? Or were the too busy calculating their 30% cut of the deal to care?

Now that General P. has said that Thailand's former political leaders will be held accountable for past incidents of corruption, I can't wait until he holds an inquiry into his bomb detector.

" The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist ".

Originally Posted by pseudolus

The thing about the GT200, did none of these countries ever think of holding it over a bomb to see if it worked? Or were the too busy calculating their 30% cut of the deal to care?

I think you misunderstood the purpose of the detector.

Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk

The sad part is the cost in human lives and injury that relying on these useless devices is causing

Could not agree more, very sad.

And then the Jun. ta, same people buying GT200, how are they going to manage the country now, there is a sign that says going south. I hope for the best but fear. P is not stupid I think, but there are rats in your house.

Originally Posted by thegent

Originally Posted by pseudolus

The thing about the GT200, did none of these countries ever think of holding it over a bomb to see if it worked? Or were the too busy calculating their 30% cut of the deal to care?

I think you misunderstood the purpose of the detector.

Purpose? To make a fortune for the cunning businessman, and the people who buy them in black money. That would be the purpose.

However, as I understand it, if they were actually working, you coul;d hold it next to a bomb, and it would go "beep" or "Bong" or "Ding" or maybe "Wwwaaaa waaaaaa warning This koont has a bomb" or something like that. It was meant to be a Remote Substance Detector. Are you trying to imply that a remote substance detector, set up to detect bomb material, remotely, would not go "ting ting ting" when held next to a known Bomb?

Originally Posted by pseudolus

However, as I understand it, if they were actually working, you coul;d hold it next to a bomb, and it would go "beep" or "Bong" or "Ding" or maybe "Wwwaaaa waaaaaa warning This koont has a bomb" or something like that. It was meant to be a Remote Substance Detector. Are you trying to imply that a remote substance detector, set up to detect bomb material, remotely, would not go "ting ting ting" when held next to a known Bomb?

At the time, Abisits democrat government became sufficiently alarmed about their ineffectiveness to get an independant scientific report carried out on them.

The findings confirmed what was being said .....that they were totally useless at sniffing out anything.

Nonetheless, Anupong, backed up by Prayuth and others went on television together in an interview to give them the thumbs up a urge that the remaining deliveries should continue.

Men of ' honour ' . When they sign on the line and recieve their bung , they carry things through to the end ...............in this case, the bitter end.