Terror Rehearsal on Oslo-Prague Flight

I fear these incidents occur much more frequently than reported. Part of the problem is that the rehearsals seldom actually reach the threshold of being criminal so the perpetrators are let go.

From Aftenposten:

Czech security police (BIS) have reported an attempt to storm the cockpit of a flight from Oslo to Prague.

The BIS annual report for 2005, released on Tuesday, mentions flight OK 447 in September 2005, where three Egyptian citizens tried to gain access to the pilots.

According to BIS spokesman Jan Subrt, police terrorism experts believe that the three Egyptians were not trying to hijack the plan but rather testing the security measures on board the plan, which was owned by Czech Airlines (CSA).

"The crew on board discovered the three Egyptians trying to open the door into the cockpit. When the stewards intervened they immediately gave up their attempts and gave the excuse that they were looking for a staff member because they wanted to buy chewing gum," Subrt said. [sic all]

Sure, I also travel with two buddies when I look for chewing gum ... Sheesh! These guys couldn't even come up with a plausible excuse. Nevertheless, more ominous is this paragraph.

This is the second time in recent weeks that Norway is linked to terrorism in the Czech Republic. In the end of September Czech authorities significantly increased security measures around Prague's Jewish memorials after receiving a tip from Norway, a few days after Norway's Police Security Service (PST) revealed alleged terrorist plans against the US and Israeli embassies in Oslo.

Stand by, friends. I expect that the terrorists will soon cease their rehearsals.