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Some years ago I was flying home from a large European airport. Unbeknownst to me there had been a bomb threat, so the security check was turned up to 11. The

Some years ago I was flying home from a large European airport. Unbeknownst to me there had been a bomb threat, so the security check was turned up to 11. The queue for the security check was enormous, thousands of people packed in a snaking queue filling up the place. I've never been so scared flying as I stood in line looking at the doors to the parking lot, with nothing but people between.

pjc50 3y ago
It's important to remember that bombs are only ever dangerous on planes, and nobody would ever think of detonating a bomb in a packed security queue.
- Panzer04 3y ago
  The kind of bombs an amateur can put together will probably do a lot less damage in an airport queue than on a 777. Seriously damage an airliner and like as not you can kill everyone on board, whereas the same bomb in even a busy public space will probably only kill a few dozen people at best (body blocking, etc). Strictly talking from the perspective of inflicting maximal harm - That need not be the goal of a would-be bomber.
  - dijit 3y ago
    I think the goal is instilling fear, and honestly, making you fear crowds would be a terribly effective strategy.
  - magicalhippo 3y ago
    Five to six large suitcases filled with explosives would likely do a lot of damage, and I saw several of them being wheeled by a single adult in or near the packed queue, as the queue spilled into the common areas. And while it might be less casualties in terms of bodies than a large plane, I think it would be more effective in terms of terror as there would be much more people directly affected. Imagine what it'd do to all those waiting in the check-in queues when they experience the explosion and the aftermath. That's why it scared me so much. It would have been such an effective move, requiring little skill and few actors. I've never been scared of such acts before or since.
- GuB-42 3y ago
  Places that take terrorism threats seriously have multiple checkpoints spread out everywhere for that reason. Not only large queues are an ideal spot to bomb if the goal is to make a lot of victims, but not having a well defined location for security checks makes it more difficult for terrorists to plan around.

pjc50 3y ago

It's important to remember that bombs are only ever dangerous on planes, and nobody would ever think of detonating a bomb in a packed security queue.

Panzer04 3y ago
The kind of bombs an amateur can put together will probably do a lot less damage in an airport queue than on a 777. Seriously damage an airliner and like as not you can kill everyone on board, whereas the same bomb in even a busy public space will probably only kill a few dozen people at best (body blocking, etc). Strictly talking from the perspective of inflicting maximal harm - That need not be the goal of a would-be bomber.
- dijit 3y ago
  I think the goal is instilling fear, and honestly, making you fear crowds would be a terribly effective strategy.
- magicalhippo 3y ago
  Five to six large suitcases filled with explosives would likely do a lot of damage, and I saw several of them being wheeled by a single adult in or near the packed queue, as the queue spilled into the common areas. And while it might be less casualties in terms of bodies than a large plane, I think it would be more effective in terms of terror as there would be much more people directly affected. Imagine what it'd do to all those waiting in the check-in queues when they experience the explosion and the aftermath. That's why it scared me so much. It would have been such an effective move, requiring little skill and few actors. I've never been scared of such acts before or since.
GuB-42 3y ago
Places that take terrorism threats seriously have multiple checkpoints spread out everywhere for that reason. Not only large queues are an ideal spot to bomb if the goal is to make a lot of victims, but not having a well defined location for security checks makes it more difficult for terrorists to plan around.