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Somali plane bomb: What happened? | Somali plane bomb: What happened? |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A passenger plane made an emergency landing at Mogadishu airport recently with a huge hole in its side and one passenger missing. Somali officials later confirmed reports that a bomb had gone off but several questions remain unanswered: | A passenger plane made an emergency landing at Mogadishu airport recently with a huge hole in its side and one passenger missing. Somali officials later confirmed reports that a bomb had gone off but several questions remain unanswered: |
Who planted the bomb? | Who planted the bomb? |
One suggestion is that the suspected bomber is the same man who was missing and later confirmed at dead. | One suggestion is that the suspected bomber is the same man who was missing and later confirmed at dead. |
We don't know that for sure. | We don't know that for sure. |
Somali officials say the missing man was called Abdulahi Abdisalam Borle, had a Somali passport and was around 55 years old. | Somali officials say the missing man was called Abdulahi Abdisalam Borle, had a Somali passport and was around 55 years old. |
He, along with most of the passengers, was meant to get on a Turkish Airlines flight but it was cancelled and Daallo Airlines took the passengers instead. | He, along with most of the passengers, was meant to get on a Turkish Airlines flight but it was cancelled and Daallo Airlines took the passengers instead. |
There has been speculation that the passenger was in a wheelchair but Daallo Airlines head Mohamed Yaseen Olad told BBC's Newsday that this was not recorded when he was checked in. | There has been speculation that the passenger was in a wheelchair but Daallo Airlines head Mohamed Yaseen Olad told BBC's Newsday that this was not recorded when he was checked in. |
Investigators told AFP news agency that he was "probably" propelled out of the hole in the side of the plane caused by the explosion. | Investigators told AFP news agency that he was "probably" propelled out of the hole in the side of the plane caused by the explosion. |
On the same day, a man was found dead on the ground in Balad, an agricultural town 30km (18 miles) north of Mogadishu. | |
But the body has not been positive identified. | But the body has not been positive identified. |
How did a bomb get onto the plane? | How did a bomb get onto the plane? |
Somali authorities have released a video they say shows a laptop being given to the passenger after he has passed through the security checkpoint. | Somali authorities have released a video they say shows a laptop being given to the passenger after he has passed through the security checkpoint. |
A man in an orange hi-vis vest is shown walking with a man in a blue shirt holding what looks like a laptop. Another man in a hat approaches them and it is alleged that the laptop is handed over. | A man in an orange hi-vis vest is shown walking with a man in a blue shirt holding what looks like a laptop. Another man in a hat approaches them and it is alleged that the laptop is handed over. |
The implication is that an explosive device was concealed in the laptop. | The implication is that an explosive device was concealed in the laptop. |
They have since arrested 20 people, including airport staff. | They have since arrested 20 people, including airport staff. |
Aviation expert David Learmont, however, is sceptical that the video is all that conclusive. | Aviation expert David Learmont, however, is sceptical that the video is all that conclusive. |
"I don't think that anybody knows for sure if this is the transaction that was behind the bombing," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme. | "I don't think that anybody knows for sure if this is the transaction that was behind the bombing," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme. |
But he added that airport staff are the weak point in security all over the world. | But he added that airport staff are the weak point in security all over the world. |
"One of the easiest ways into today's system is to subvert employees who have passes to go into airside," he added. | "One of the easiest ways into today's system is to subvert employees who have passes to go into airside," he added. |
The pilot of the plane was slightly more blunt in an interview with Associated Press. "The security is zero," Vlatko Vodopivec said. | The pilot of the plane was slightly more blunt in an interview with Associated Press. "The security is zero," Vlatko Vodopivec said. |
Why didn't the bomb make more of an impact? | Why didn't the bomb make more of an impact? |
The plane's pilot told AP that if the explosion happened when the aircraft was at a higher altitude it could have caused the jet to crash. | The plane's pilot told AP that if the explosion happened when the aircraft was at a higher altitude it could have caused the jet to crash. |
Bomb disposal specialist David Denman explains that a relatively small explosion - from the amount you can fit in a laptop case or even smaller - can have a "catastophic" effect. | Bomb disposal specialist David Denman explains that a relatively small explosion - from the amount you can fit in a laptop case or even smaller - can have a "catastophic" effect. |
That's because a small explosion, causing a small hole would create a secondary effect if the cabin is pressurised and the plane is flying at a high altitude. | That's because a small explosion, causing a small hole would create a secondary effect if the cabin is pressurised and the plane is flying at a high altitude. |
Mr Denman explains that in that circumstance, the difference in pressure would cause the contents of the plane to be sucked out, making a bigger hole, the pilot losing control and possibly leading to the plane breaking into bits. | Mr Denman explains that in that circumstance, the difference in pressure would cause the contents of the plane to be sucked out, making a bigger hole, the pilot losing control and possibly leading to the plane breaking into bits. |
Instead the bomb went off roughly 15 minutes after the plane took off, at 11,000ft (3,350m). | Instead the bomb went off roughly 15 minutes after the plane took off, at 11,000ft (3,350m). |
This resulted in a hole in the side of the plane of around one metre but the pilot managed to land the plane safely. | This resulted in a hole in the side of the plane of around one metre but the pilot managed to land the plane safely. |
So this really leads to the question - why did the bomb explode when it did? | So this really leads to the question - why did the bomb explode when it did? |
That is impossible to know without speaking to those involved in the plot. | That is impossible to know without speaking to those involved in the plot. |
Why hasn't anyone claimed responsibility for the bomb? | Why hasn't anyone claimed responsibility for the bomb? |
The BBC Somali service's Abdirahman Koronto suggests that a militant group would have said they were behind the attack if there had been a bigger impact. | The BBC Somali service's Abdirahman Koronto suggests that a militant group would have said they were behind the attack if there had been a bigger impact. |
He points out that, usually, the main Islamist militants group in Somalia, al-Shabab, says it has carried out an attack a few hours after it has happened. | He points out that, usually, the main Islamist militants group in Somalia, al-Shabab, says it has carried out an attack a few hours after it has happened. |
The group used a laptop bomb three years ago. But in the 2013 attack it was used in conjunction with a car bomb and six people died. | The group used a laptop bomb three years ago. But in the 2013 attack it was used in conjunction with a car bomb and six people died. |
On the other hand, he points out there are also attacks that no-one has admitted to. In December 2013 three Syrian doctors and their Somali colleague were shot dead in an ambush, something al-Shabab denied being involved in. | On the other hand, he points out there are also attacks that no-one has admitted to. In December 2013 three Syrian doctors and their Somali colleague were shot dead in an ambush, something al-Shabab denied being involved in. |
Read more about al-Shabab in Somalia: | Read more about al-Shabab in Somalia: |
Who are al-Shabab? | Who are al-Shabab? |
Profile of a Somali suicide bomber | Profile of a Somali suicide bomber |
Al-Shabab hit by IS calls | Al-Shabab hit by IS calls |