Second suicide bomber kills 31 on bus in Russia in two days

Russian firefighters inspect the trolleybus destroyed in a bomb attack in Volgograd on December 30, 2013 

Moscow, December 30
At least 31 people were killed and 30 others injured today when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a packed trolleybus in Volgograd, raising new concerns about security at the Sochi Olympics a day after an attack on the southern city’s train station.
President Vladimir Putin, under pressure to show that Russia can assure the security of tens of thousands of guests when the Winter Games open on February 7, ordered stepped up security across the country.
The twin suicide attacks on Volgograd, which until this year had no record of recent unrest, have stunned Russia and troubled the authorities as people prepare for mass New Year celebrations. At least 17 people died in yesterday's attack blamed on a suspected female suicide bomber. The force of the blast destroyed the number 15A trolleybus, which was packed with early morning commuters and was turned into a tangle of wreckage with only its roof and front remaining.

Russian city of Volgograd, site of a deadly suicide bombing Sunday and blast on trolleybus Monday 

Health ministry spokesman Oleg Salagai told Russian state television that 14 people were killed in the trolleybus bombing and 30 wounded. Russian investigators have opened a criminal probe into a suspected act of terror as well as the illegal carrying of weapons, the Investigative Committee said.

"The explosives were detonated by a male suicide bomber, fragments of whose body have been found and taken for genetic analysis to establish his identity," said spokesman Vladimir Markin. He said some four kilograms of TNT equivalent had been used in the blast.

Female suicide bomber kills 16 at Russian railway station 

At least 16 people were killed and many others wounded Sunday by a suicide bomber at Volgograd railway station in Volgograd, Russia, on Dec. 29, 2013

A female suicide bomber blew herself up in the entrance hall of a Russian train station on Sunday in Volgograd on December 29, killing at least 16 persons in the second deadly attack within three days as the country prepares to host the Winter Olympics.

The bomber detonated her explosives in front of a metal detector just inside the main entrance of Volgograd station. Footage shown on TV showed a massive orange fireball filling the stately colonnaded hall and smoke billowing out through shattered windows.

“People were lying on the ground, screaming and calling for help,” a witness, Alexander Koblyakov, told Rossiya-24 TV. “I helped carry out a police officer whose head and face were covered in blood. He couldn’t speak.”

A spokesman for Russian investigators said at least 16 people were killed. The regional governor put the toll at 15. President Vladimir Putin ordered law enforcement agencies to take all necessary precautions to ensure security, his spokesman said.

A federal police spokesman said measures would be tightened at stations and airports, with more officers on duty and stricter security checks. But the attack, just over two months after a female suicide bomber killed six persons on a bus in the same city, raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures which the Kremlin routinely orders to be increased after bombings.

It could add to concerns about the government’s ability to safeguard the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The Games, which open in 40 days’ time, are a major prestige project for Putin, who wants to show how far Russia has come since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Female suicide bombers - known as ‘black widows’ because some are the relatives of dead insurgents - have carried out several attacks claimed by Islamist militants.

Volgograd lies just above Russia’s restive North Caucasus region, a string of mostly Muslim provinces that includes Chechnya, where Russia has fought two wars against separatists in the past two decades. The region is beset by near-daily violence. Interfax news agency cited a law enforcement source as saying the attacker may have come from Dagestan, the province adjacent to Chechnya that is now the centre of the insurgency. The October bus bomber was from the same region.

Volgograd is a city of around 1 million people, and a major transport hub in southern Russia, about 690 km northeast of Sochi, where the Olympics will open on February 7. Insurgent leader Doku Umarov, a Chechen warlord, urged militants in a video posted online in July to use “maximum force” to prevent Putin staging the Olympics.

On Friday, a car bomb killed three people in Pyatigorsk, close to the North Caucasus and 270 km east of Sochi. “We can expect more such attacks,” said Alexei Filatov, deputy head of the veterans’ association of the elite Alfa anti-terrorism unit.

“The threat is greatest now because it is when terrorists can make the biggest impression,” he told Reuters. “The security measures were beefed up long ago around Sochi, so terrorists will strike instead in these nearby cities like Volgograd.”

Volgograd is one of the venues for the 2018 soccer World Cup, another high-profile sports event Putin has helped Russia win the right to stage, and which will bring thousands of foreign fans to cities around Russia. Sunday’s attack was the deadliest to strike Russia’s heartland since January 2011, when a male suicide bomber from the North Caucasus killed 37 persons in the arrival hall of a busy Moscow airport.

Threat looms over Winter Olympics
The fresh attack has heightened fears about security at the Winter Olympic Games, which opens on February 7, in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi. Putin has ordered stepping up of security across Russia and new measures to national anti-terror committee. Russia is preparing to impose a security cordon around Sochi from January 7.

Student from Punjab critical after attack in Melbourne

Melbourne, December 30 
A student from Punjab, Manrajwinder Singh (20), suffered serious injuries in a brutal attack by a group during a night out with two of his friends here yesterday.

The attackers, including a woman, assaulted Manrajwinder on a footpath at Birrarung Marr Park, near Central Melbourne.

The victim was taken to The Alfred hospital with life threatening injuries and later transferred to the intensive care unit.

CCTV footage released by the Victoria police showed the victim standing near a footpath with his friends when he was attacked.

Detective Senior Constable Adam Foley said one of the assailants kicked Manrajwinder in the jaw after a brief conversation and knocked him to the ground. The attackers then assaulted him with a stick.

Another victim, who also belongs to Punjab, suffered swelling and abrasions to the face and was treated by paramedics at the scene. The group robbed them of their mobile phones and wallets.

The third man, a 20-year-old from Noble Park, was not assaulted and managed to run away to seek help.

“This was an opportunistic crime… They saw two vulnerable victims minding their own business and targeted them,” said Foley.

Manrajwinder has been in Australia for the past one year studying bachelor of commerce at the University of Melbourne.

At the hospital, the victim’s brother, Yadwinder Singh, said: “I can’t see my brother in this condition. I just want these culprits to be punished… my brother should get justice.”

Detectives are investigating the case and the Victoria police are on a lookout for the assailants, including eight men perceived to be of African origin and a Caucasian woman.

The Indian consulate said they were in touch with the local authorities and the victim’s family in Punjab.

Robbed of mobile phones, wallets

* Manrajwinder Singh was with two friends when he was attacked by a group of eight men and a woman near a footpath in Melbourne.

* His friend also suffered injuries; the assailants robbed them of their mobile phones and wallets.

* Manrajwinder had arrived in Australia a year ago and was studying commerce in the University of Melbourne.

NRI Bollywood: Gauhar Khan wins 'Bigg Boss 7'

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Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the AK-47 rifle, dead at 94

Mikhail Kalashnikov shows his AK-47 assault rifle at his home in
the Ural Mountain city of Izhevsk, Russia on Oct. 29, 1997

MOSCOW -- Mikhail Kalashnikov started out wanting to make farm equipment, but the harvest he reaped was one of blood as the designer of the AK-47 assault rifle, the world's most popular firearm.

It was the carnage of World War, when Nazi Germany overran much of the Soviet Union, which altered his course and made his name as well-known for bloodshed as Smith, Wesson and Colt. The distinctive shape of the gun, often called "a Kalashnikov," appeared on revolutionary flags and adorns memorabilia.

Kalashnikov died Monday at age 94 in a hospital in Izhevsk, the capital of the Udmurtia republic where he lived, said Viktor Chulkov, a spokesman for the republic's president. He did not give a cause of death. Kalashnikov had been hospitalized for the past month with unspecified health problems.Kaslashnikov often said he felt personally untroubled by his contribution to bloodshed.

"I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence," he told The Associated Press in 2007.

100 million made

The AK-47 -- "Avtomat Kalashnikov" and the year it went into production -- is the world's most popular firearm, favoured by guerrillas, terrorists and the soldiers of many armies. An estimated 100 million guns are spread worldwide.

Though it isn't especially accurate, its ruggedness and simplicity are exemplary: it performs in sandy or wet conditions which jam more sophisticated weapons such as the U.S. M-16.

"During the Vietnam war, American soldiers would throw away their M-16s to grab AK-47s and bullets for it from dead Vietnamese soldiers," Kalashnikov said in July 2007 at a ceremony marking the rifle's 60th anniversary.

The weapon's suitability for jungle and desert fighting made it nearly ideal for the Third World insurgents backed by the Soviet Union, and Moscow not only distributed the AK-47 widely but also licensed its production in some 30 other countries.

The gun's status among revolutionaries and national-liberation struggles is enshrined on the flag of Mozambique.

Kalashnikov, born into a peasant family in Siberia, began his working life as a railroad clerk. After he joined the Red Army in 1938, he began to show mechanical flair by inventing several modifications for Soviet tanks.

The moment that firmly set his course was in the 1941 battle of Bryansk against Nazi forces, when a shell hit his tank. Recovering from wounds in the hospital, Kalashnikov brooded about the superior automatic rifles he'd seen the Nazis deploy; his rough ideas and revisions bore fruit five years later.

"Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer," said Kalashnikov. "I always wanted to construct agricultural machinery."

In 2007, President Vladimir Putin praised him, saying "The Kalashnikov rifle is a symbol of the creative genius of our people."

Never patented

Over his career, he was decorated with numerous honours, including the Hero of Socialist Labor and Order of Lenin and Stalin Prize. But because his invention was never patented, he didn't get rich off royalties.

"At that time in our country patenting inventions wasn't an issue. We worked for Socialist society, for the good of the people, which I never regret," he once said.

Kalashnikov continued working into his late 80s as chief designer of the Izmash company that first built the AK-47. He also travelled the world helping Russia negotiate new arms deals, and he wrote books on his life, about arms and about youth education.

"After the collapse of the great and mighty Soviet Union so much crap has been imposed on us, especially on the younger generation," he said. "I wrote six books to help them find their way in life."

He said he was proud of his bronze bust installed in his native village of Kurya in the Siberian region of Altai. He said newlyweds bring flowers to the bust. "They whisper 'Uncle Misha, wish us happiness and healthy kids,"' he said. "What other gun designer can boast of that?"

Airport Security - Frequently Asked Questions

This post specifies the security dos and donts for general information. Although we endeavour to ensure the information is kept up to date, the allowances could change without notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Liquids, Gels and Aerosols
Q1.	What exactly are liquids, gels and aerosols (LAGs)? LAGs include: ·         drinks, including water, soup, syrup, jams, stews, sauces and pastes; ·         foods in sauces or containing a high liquid content; ·         creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, cosmetics, including mascara, lip gloss, lip balm, etc; ·         sprays and pressurised containers, including shaving foam and spray deodorants; ·         pastes, including toothpastes; ·         gels, including hair and shower gel; ·         liquid-solid mixtures; ·         any other items of similar consistency at room temperature.
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Q2.	Can I take water / drinks / foods with liquids through the security screening point at HKIA? Not unless they are in containers no larger than 100ml and placed in a clear re-sealable plastic bag with maximum capacity of 1 litre. To avoid inconvenience, passengers can purchase water or other drinks in shops after security and airlines do provide water during the flight.
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Q3.	What will happen to LAGs items and containers that cannot be brought through the security screening checkpoint? All such items will be disposed. To facilitate the security screening process and avoid unnecessary disposal of your LAGs at the security screening checkpoint, passengers should pack any LAGs that are not required for the flight in the hold baggage.
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Transparent re-sealable plastic bag for passengers to carry allowable quantities of LAGs past the security control point at HKIA
Q4.	Is there any specific requirement on the shape or size of the transparent re-sealable plastic bag? We recommend passengers use a bag with dimensions of 20cm by 20cm (8 inches by 8 inches), the capacity of which does not exceed 1 litre. This type of plastic bag is the most common one that has been used where the measures have been implemented since August 2006, e.g. in US and EU.
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Q5.	Can I use other plastic bag other than those specified? It is acceptable as long as the plastic bag is transparent, re-sealable and no larger than 1-litre capacity.
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Q6.	Where can I get such a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of the required size? Such bags are commonly available in supermarkets and household product stores.
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Q7.	What if I arrive at the airport without a bag? Such bags are readily available at supermarkets and household product stores in Hong Kong. If you arrive at the airport unprepared, then such bags can be purchased at the convenience stores and the pharmacies in Terminal 1 and 2. Please re-pack those essential LAGs you require to take with you into the aircraft cabin. All other LAGs should be re-packed into your hold bag, subject to IATA Dangerous Goods Regulation, before you check in.
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Contents of transparent re-sealable plastic bag containers
Q8.	Is there a restriction on the number of containers I can put into the 1-litre plastic bag? No. Each container however must be 100ml or less and all of them must fit “comfortably” in the 1-litre plastic bag. Normally, a 1-litre plastic bag can comfortably fit five 100ml containers. Containers over 100ml with liquids and those that cannot fit into the 1-litre bag will have to be discarded at the screening check point.
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Q9.	Do the liquids have to be in their original containers? No. LAGs can be stored in any container as long as the size of such container does not exceed 100 ml.
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Q10.	Does the container need to be transparent? No.
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Q11.	Can I take liquids in containers larger than 100ml? Not in the cabin baggage. They have to be packed in your baggage that you check-in to the aircraft hold. Oversized containers will not be allowed past the security point and you will be asked to dispose of them.
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Q12.	I wear disposable contact lenses. Can I carry spare sets in my hand baggage? You may carry a couple of spare pairs in your cabin baggage, provided that they can fit into a 1-litre plastic bag. The packages need to be sealed. Beyond that, you should pack in your hold baggage.
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Q13.	Can I take my lipstick and deodorants on board? Yes. You can take on board all solid cosmetics and so a standard lipstick would be acceptable as would solid deodorants. You can also take atomiser / cream / roll-on deodorants, lip gloss in containers up to 100ml. These will need to go in a 1-litre plastic bag. Oversized containers will not be allowed past the security point and you will be asked to dispose of them.
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Q14.	Do toothpaste and shaving foam qualify as LAGs? Yes. Such items need to be in containers of not more than 100ml and placed inside your 1-litre plastic bag. Oversized containers will not be allowed past the security point and you will be asked to dispose of them.
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Exemptions for medication and baby milk / food
Q15.	What is the exemption for medication in LAG form? LAG form medication, including Chinese medicine and "off-the-shelf" LAG medication such as cough syrup or contact lens solution, is exempted from the 100ml requirement. Passengers are allowed to take essential medicines sufficient for the flight. To facilitate the screening process, it is recommended that LAG form medication amounts under 100ml be placed in a 1-litre transparent re-sealable plastic bag, with other liquids. If the container is larger than 100ml, it should be presented separately to security for x-ray inspection. Passengers may be asked to provide verification for the product, such as a doctor's letter, proof of prescription or passenger's name printed on the label of the medicine. To avoid inconvenience at the security screening point, passengers should pack medication in LAG form that is not required for the flight into the hold baggage.
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Q16.	Is there a restriction on the amount of baby milk / juice / food that I can carry through the screening point? Baby milk / juice / food in LAGs form is exempted from the 100ml requirement and there is no specific limitation on the amount. Passengers are allowed to take sufficient amount for the flight. To facilitate the screening process, it is recommended that amounts under 100ml be placed in a 1-litre plastic bag, with other liquids. If the container is larger than 100ml, it should be presented separately to security for x-ray inspection. Your accompanying baby should be present at the security screening check point. To avoid inconvenience at the security screening point, passengers should pack the baby milk / juice / food of your accompanying baby that is not required for the flight into the hold baggage.
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Q17.	How about baby milk powder formula? Powder formula is not classified as LAGs and the restriction does not apply.
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Q18.	What if security screening staff do not accept that the medication / baby product is a reasonable quantity? Security screening staff have the final say regarding what items are allowed through the screening point. If the security officer decides that you are attempting to take unreasonable amounts of non-prescription medication or baby products through the screening point, you may be asked to surrender some or all of these products. If you fail to do so, you will not be allowed to proceed through the screening point.
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Q19.	What about diabetic passengers? No change to existing arrangements. Diabetic passengers are allowed to carry sufficient insulin and hypodermic needles necessary for in-flight use, subject to provision of medical evidence. Should the diabetic passengers need to bring their own dietary food in containers more than 100ml e.g. juice with no sugar added, for in-flight use, they are allowed to do so but is subject to provision of medical evidence. The exempted item should also be presented separately to security for x-ray inspection.
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Shopping after security
Q20.	Can passengers bring liquid items purchased at HKIA onto their departing flight? Generally passengers can take liquid items purchased at shops, located beyond the security screening check points, at HKIA onto their departing flight. However, if such passengers are taking United State or Australian bound flights or have to transfer to another flight at the next port of call, they should check with their airlines on the requirements for carriage of liquid purchases.
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Q21.	Can transfer passengers bring their liquid items purchased at the airport at their previous port of call or on board aircraft through the transfer security screening point at HKIA? Yes, if such items are in containers no larger than 100ml and placed in a tranparent re-sealable plastic bag with maximum capacity of 1 litre . Liquid purchases that are in excess of 100ml may be allowed through the security screening point at HKIA upon satisfactory checks if they meet the following requirements: ·         purchased from airports which have implemented the new requirements on the control of liquids (passengers are advised to check with their airlines on local requirements adopted at different countries) ; or ·         purchased on board Hong Kong registered aircraft (Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways and Hong Kong Airlines); or ·         purchased on board non-Hong Kong registered aircraft whose previous port of call is an airport which has implemented the new requirements on the control of liquids; and ·         liquid purchases are packed in a sealed plastic bag that is both tamper-evident and display satisfactory proof of purchase on the day(s) of the journey. NOTE: Individual destinations or airlines may have different requirements on the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels. Please check with your airlines or travel agents in advance.
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Others
Q22.	What do I need to do with my transparent re-sealable plastic bag? Have it ready for inspection at security. Ensure it is fastened closed and kept separate from your hand baggage in order to facilitate security checks.
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Q23.	What else can I do to help speed up the process? We recommend passengers arrive at the airport in good time. Passengers should check in their items that are not needed for in-flight and have their 1-litre plastic bag and / or any exempted items ready for inspection. Passengers should comply fully with the instructions of the security screening officers who have the final decision regarding what liquids, aerosols and gels that are unacceptable beyond the screening point. Those who fail to comply with the instructions will not be allowed to pass the security control point and may therefore be unable to board their flights. Proceeding past the security control point without complying fully with all security requirements is liable to police arrest and criminal prosecution. It is the duty of the security screening officers to ensure that the Hong Kong aviation security requirements are met and that all passengers are as secure as possible. Passengers’ cooperation in complying with all security requirements will ensure safe air travel for all. http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_CA/travel-information/baggage/restricted-items/prohibited-items.html

Prohibited Items

For safety and security reasons, dangerous goods such as those listed below, must not be carried in passenger's baggage (checked or unchecked):

• attaché briefcases with installed alarm devices; or incorporate lithium batteries and/or pyrotechnic material;
• explosives, munitions, fireworks, toy fireworks and flares;
• compressed gases (flammable, non-flammable or poisonous) such as butane, propane, aqualung cylinders, lighter fuels or refills, aerosols, chemical irritant aerosols;
• electric stunning device;
• flammable liquids such as paints, thinner, adhesives;
• flammable solids such as "strike anywhere matches", charcoal, phosphorus and articles which are easily ignited;
• oxidizing substances such as bleaching powder and peroxides;
• toxic substances, poisons such as arsenic, cyanides, insecticides, weedkillers;
• infectious substances such as biological products;
• radioactive materials;
• corrosive materials such as mercury (which may be contained in thermometers or blood pressure gauges), acids, alkalis and wet cell batteries;
• any other substances which, during a flight, present a danger not covered above, such as magnetized, offensive or irritating materials.

Medicines and toiletries in limited quantities which are necessary for your journey, such as hair sprays, perfumes and medicines containing alcohol, may be carried on board. Further information is available on request.

Inflated objects

Inflated objects, including inflated balls for sporting purposes such as basketballs, are restricted to be carried on board unless those objects have been fully deflated before boarding.

Restricted Articles

Please contact our reservations office for further information. Harpoons and spear guns are classified as arms. Examples of a restricted article would include:

·         Lighters and Matches
With the exception of China, Bangladesh, India and the US, a passenger can carry one small packet of safety matches or a cigarette lighter on one’s person, which is intended for use by the individual only.

China, Bangladesh, and India 
Passengers travelling from these three countries are not allowed to carry any lighters and matches onboard or in any baggage (checked or unchecked).

United States
Passengers travelling to/from the USA are not allowed to carry any torch lighters onboard or in any baggage (checked or unchecked).

Note: No lighter fuel or lighter refills can be permitted on the person or in the checked/unchecked baggage.

Please refer to the TSA website for more information.

·         knives (including hunting knives, swords), scissors and any other sharp objects (eg ice-pick, ski poles, hiking poles) considered illegal by local law and;

·         Firearms/Ammunition, including pistols, signal pistols, rifles, shotguns, air rile/guns, sterling guns, c.s. pistols, Remington, humane killers, bolt guns, flare pistols, toy rifles/pistols, toy air rifles/pistols, toy pistol caps and starting pistols, ammunition, replica or imitation firearms, crossbows.

The importation into Hong Kong of arms and ammunition is governed by laws, which require import licences or permits to be issued in advance by the authorities concerned.

·         Explosive material, including military, commercial or home-made explosive, explosive devices, detonators, smoke cartridges, bullet bombs, grenades, missiles, magazines (gun part) mines and other explosive military ordinance, replica or imitation explosive material or devices.

·         Pointed or bladed items made or adapted to cause injury, flick knives (or any knife operated in the same manner, mechanically or electrically), gravity catch knives, stilettos, daggers, kukris, Chinese/Japanese style throwing dart, Gurkha knives (butterfly knives), other knives both real or ceremonial with blades of any length or description, including sheath knives, kirpans and skeandhus, open razors, scalpels, ice picks, swords, sword sticks, ski poles, hiking poles, umbrellas containing sword blades or arrows, any bladed or pointed weapon designed to be used in a fashion whereby the handle is held in a clenched fist and the blade or point protrudes between the fingers or fists (e.g. knuckle duster).

·         Items containing incapacitating substances, including tear gas, mace and phosphorous acids.

·         Highly inflammable substances (e.g. petrol, lighter fuel, etc.)

·         Gas containers and aerosols with a capacity of more than 500 millilitres.

·         Knuckle-dusters (with or without blade, spiked or not spiked), clubs, coshes, rice flails, including, truncheon (spring operated baton), two-section staffs, Mace (baton), hand/thumb-cuffs, gravity-operated batons, Chinese style fighting iron, spring loaded steel batons,

Please click here for Security Checks Requirement.

For passengers travelling to, from or transiting in Hong Kong, please refer to CAD website & HK Police website for more information.

For latest update and further information, you can visit The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website and Heathrow Airport (BAA) website.

EU Prohibited Articles

Passengers are not permitted to carry the following articles into security restricted areas and on board the cabin of an aircraft. Articles prohibited in passenger’s hold baggage are additionally marked with an asterisk (*).

(a) Guns, firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles — Devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile,

including:

·         firearms of all types, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns,

·         toy guns, replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons,

·         component parts of firearms, excluding telescopic sights,

·         compressed air and CO2 guns, such as pistols, pellet guns, rifles and ball bearing guns,

·         signal flare pistols and starter pistols,

·         bows, cross bows and arrows,

·         harpoon guns and spear guns,

·         slingshots and catapults;

(b) Stunning devices — Devices designed specifically to stun or immobilise,

including:

·         devices for shocking, such as stun guns, tasers and stun batons,

·         animal stunners and animal killers,

·         disabling and incapacitating chemicals, gases and sprays, such as mace, pepper sprays, capsicum sprays, tear gas, acid sprays and animal
repellent sprays;

(c) Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge — Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury,

including:

·         items designed for chopping, such as axes, hatchets and cleavers,

·         ice axes and ice picks,

·         razor blades,

·         box cutters,

·         knives with blades of more than 6 cm*

·         scissors with blades of more than 6 cm as measured from the fulcrum,

·         martial arts equipment with a sharp point or sharp edge,

·         swords and sabres;

* carrying certain knives without a reasonable excuse may be a criminal offence. If you encounter a knife such as a butterfly, flick or lock knife of any length police assistance should be sought in line with local procedures

(d) Workmen’s tools — Tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft,

including:

·         crowbars,

·         drills and drill bits, including cordless portable power drills,

·         tools with a blade or a shaft of more than 6 cm capable of use as a

·         weapon, such as screwdrivers and chisels,

·         saws, including cordless portable power saws,

·         blowtorches,

·         bolt guns and nail guns;

(e) Blunt instruments — Objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit,

including:

·         baseball and softball bats,

·         clubs and batons, such as billy clubs, blackjacks and night sticks,

·         martial arts equipment;

(f) Explosives and incendiary substances and devices — Explosives and incendiary substances and devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of aircraft,

including:

·         ammunition,*

·         blasting caps,*

·         detonators and fuses,*

·         replica or imitation explosive devices,

·         mines, grenades and other explosive military stores,*

·         fireworks and other pyrotechnics*

·         smoke-generating canisters and smoke-generating cartridges,*

·         dynamite, gunpowder and plastic explosives.*

* These articles are additionally prohibited from carriage in passenger’s hold baggage.

Examples of dangerous goods prohibited in cabin baggage on safety grounds

include:

·         Flammable or harmful gases (such as camping gas, glazing torches)

·         Flammable liquids (lighter fluid, petrol, diesel)

·         Flammable solids (such as non-safety matches, disposable BBQ, coal,

·         firelighters)

·         Oxidisers (e.g. bleach)

·         Poisons (e.g. pesticides, weed killer)

·         Corrosives (car or other wet batteries, mercury)

·         Biological or Chemical hazardous materials

The CAA Dangerous Goods Office have produced a guide entitled “What Can I Carry?” containing guidance and further details on the most encountered dangerous and prohibited items.

Products of animal origin are prohibited to be brought into the European Union (EU)

Products of animal origin may carry pathogens that can cause infectious diseases in animals. Passengers* are not allowed to bring any consignment of meat / meat products, or milk / milk products into EU, with the exception of up to 2 kilograms of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special foods/special pet feed required for medical purpose, provided that -

·         The product does not require refrigeration before consumption;

·         It is a product of packaged proprietary brand and

·         The packaging is not broken.

For fishery products (including fish and certain shellfish such as prawns, lobsters, dead mussels and dead oysters), passengers** are allowed to bring in such products up to 20 kilograms in total, or one fish that weighs 20 kilograms or over.

* Except those arriving from Croatia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, or Iceland with less than 10 kilograms of such products for personal consumption.

** No weight restriction for those arriving from Faeroe Islands or Iceland.

For updates and more details, please visit the European Commission Food Safety website athttp://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/animalproducts/personal_imports/index_en.htm