Winter Olympics 2014: Airlines warned of toothpaste tube bombs

America’s homeland security warned that terrorists might hide explosives in toothpaste tubes on flights to Russia.

12:48 06 February 2014

On the eve of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, US Homeland Security has issued a warning to people who are flying to Russia telling them that terrorists could attempt to smuggle explosives on board flights by hiding them in toothpaste tubes. 

 

It added that explosive devices can then be assembled in flight or upon arrival at the Olympics. However, the department clarified that the warning was just a “routine communication” and that the US is not aware of a “specific threat” at this time. 

 

The White House National Security Council spokeswoman, Laura Magnuson, said: "If we should receive information in the coming days and weeks that changes our assessment of whether people should travel to Sochi, we will make that information public."

 

Meanwhile, Whitehall officials said that terrorist attacks were very likely to occur in Russia based on their threat assessment. Olympic committees in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and the UK also received messages threatening their delegations at the Winter Olympics, but these were dismissed by officials as unfounded.

 

On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Games will be safe. He also confirmed the deployment of up to 60,000 law enforcement personnel around Sochi until February 23.