A federal law enforcement official said that airlines flying into Russia in advance for Winter Olympic Games are being advised to increase security because of the possibility that terrorist operatives could use toothpaste tubes to fabricate explosives to interrupt the games, according to the report in USA Today.
This information about the possible threat attack was picked up in a stream of intelligence security that authorities have been analyzing in advance of the Sochi, Winter Olympic Games, which have already been threatened by Islamist extremists. Security already tightened in Russia in the view of the event concerns.
The official, who is not authorized to comment publicly, has briefed the possible threat matter. He said that the actual news is still unclear whether launching such an attack was viable, the warning was not based on a specific threat. The official said the decision to alert the airlines was made out of an abundance of caution and is likely to be the first of many such bulletins issued related to possible threats in Russia.
Security preparations for the Sochi Games have been among the most extensive in the history of the Olympics because of the persistent threat posed by extremists just outside the perimeter of the host city. A security force of more than 40,000 has been dispatched to create what Russian authorities have described as a "ring of steel'' around the city and venues that stretch from the Black Sea Coast to the Caucasus Mountains to the east.
Preparations were stepped up in late December after twin suicide bombings in the city of Volgograd, nearly 500 miles from Sochi, left more than 30 dead.
As recently as Tuesday, President Obama was briefed on the U.S. government's involvement in the security effort and directed American authorities to work closely with the Russian Government and act on any new information that might affect the security of the Games.
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