Iraq orders probe into ‘ineffective’ bomb detection devices
By IANSSunday, January 24, 2010
BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered an investigation into the use of explosives detection devices imported from a British company after reports, an interior ministry official said.
“Maliki ordered immediate investigation about bomb detectors imported from the British company after information said that the director of the company has been arrested on fraud charges, and that the devices are not suitable for bomb detection,” the official told Xinhua.
On Saturday, Britain banned the export of a hand-held bomb-detection device, called ADE-651, made by the British company ATSC. These devices are widely used at security checkpoints across Baghdad to detect explosives at distance.
“The government will take necessary measures if the probe proves that the information of the ineffectiveness of the devices is true,” the official said.
The ineffectiveness of the device raised anger among Iraqi officials as the government paid some $85 million for some 1,500 devices.
