UK government promoted useless 'bomb detectors'

UK government promoted useless 'bomb detectors'

news.bbc.co.uk

The government has admitted that the Army and UK civil servants helped market so-called "bomb detectors", which did not work, around the world.

Export of the "magic wand" detectors to Iraq and Afghanistan was banned on 27 January 2010 because of the threat they posed to British and allied troops.

The move followed a BBC Newsnight investigation showing they could not detect explosives - or anything else.

Now Newsnight has learned that they are still being sold around the globe.

It has been alleged that hundreds of Iraqis died in explosions in Baghdad after ADE651 detectors fa

(visit the link for the full news article)

www.ade651.co.uk...
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Just saw this on newsnight. This is one of those things where you think, wow, just wow.
This is clearly a scam device, and the scammers have made millions selling this device to governments, police forces, airports and other major departments. What's more is the UK government helped market these things which has no doubt cost lives.
These detectors are still being used in places like Iraq today.

No doubt this will be on BBC iplayer in the next day or two for those in the UK, i hope another way for people to watch it does come up though.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/31c6a1444973.jpg[/atsimg]

news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

en.wikipedia.org...
www.atscltd.com...

BAGHDAD — Despite major bombings that have rattled the nation, and fears of rising violence as American troops withdraw, Iraq’s security forces have been relying on a device to detect bombs and weapons that the United States military and technical experts say is useless.

www.nytimes.com...

Here is another offending site promoting it, it features a warning that

ECPlaza is currently verifying this company and products. The homepage of this company will open once ECPlaza have verified. Please wait till the verification is completed

atscllc.en.ecplaza.net...

Just like an hardware contract... if it fails and doesn't work, especially at such a dangerous event level...
They will be sued and company will go bankrupt.

reply to post by CanadianDream420


You're right, the maker has been charged in the US for previous version of this device and hopefully will be brought down for good now. But what about the British colenel who actively promoted and demonstrated it knowing he would not use it. As usual, heads should roll.
There was a ban in place on only exports to Iraq and Afghanistan, why wasn't that extended elsewhere.
Who knows they may of even been used in Moscow airport.

This device is marketed to everyone they can think of.
From their site.

•Airports/ Customs
•Border Control
•Military Facilities
•Embassies/VIP Guards
•Government buildings
•Fuel Depots
•Public Utilities
•Police/Prisons
•High-Security events
•Search & Rescue
•Wildlife Reserves

en.wikipedia.org...

In Mexico the Government of Colima bought one of these devices, paying more than $60,000.[18] Also, as can be seen in the photography accompanying an article about GT200 published in newspaper La-Ch.com, where can be seen a Mexican soldier using an ADE 651. It is possible that the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) also bought some units.[19]

According to a promotional website for the ADE 651, the device is also used by the Lebanese Army, the Chinese Police, the Royal Thai Police and the Interior Ministry of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraqi Kurdistan. The website claims that the Jordanian government requires hotels to employ ADE 651 devices to scan vehicles entering underground car parks.[20] ATSC's Jim McCormick says that 20 countries have acquired the device, with purchasers including "the Saudis, Indian police, a Belgian drug squad, a Hong Kong correctional facility and the Chittagong navy."[12] The police in the Belgian municipal region of Geel-Laakdal-Meerhout use the device to detect drugs.[21] Pakistan's Airport Security Force also uses the ADE 651 as a bomb detector at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.[22]

Really, $60,000 for one device?
20 countries have been using this device?
It's unbelieveable.

Looks like a fancy dowsing rod.
Okay, everybody relax, no bomb here... I can feel it.

reply to post by laterallateral


Exactly, it's just a radio antenna and a bit of plastic designed pretty much to move like a dowsing rod does.
But hey, this one can detect bombs, drugs, electronics and fools willing to part with £60,000.

Originally posted by pazcat

This is clearly a scam device, and the scammers have made millions selling this device to governments, police forces, airports and other major departments

Also made and sold to USA Police between 1993-1996
en.wikipedia.org...

reply to post by dereks


It would be funny if it wasn't so abhorrent. The amount of people taken in by this gets bigger the more you look into it.
The sad bit is that people lives are at stake.

I have found over the internet the ADE 651 maufacturer's website. What do you think about that?

Originally posted by ernstfilibert
I have found over the internet the ADE 651 maufacturer's website. What do you think about that?

Belive or not but they have a site dedicated to ADE 651!

Originally posted by alanturing

Originally posted by ernstfilibert
I have found over the internet the ADE 651 maufacturer's website. What do you think about that?

Belive or not but they have a site dedicated to ADE 651!

Incredible what people can invent

I wonder how many lives this junk has cost or will cost in the future.
I have just been watching the 20/20 cricket in India and the police are patrolling the crowd using these detectors.
I wonder would the various cricket boards be allowing their players to attend under this type of security.