Why did a university mistake a sticker for a bomb threat on a student's bike?

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A recent incident on a TriMet bus in Portland highlighted a significant loophole in national security protocols. A passenger, Ben Leavitt, was confronted by the bus driver for having a sticker on his bike that read "This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb," the name of a punk band. This situation mirrors a previous case at Ohio University, where a graduate student's bike was destroyed by bomb squad authorities due to a similar sticker, leading to significant financial loss and panic on campus. The discussions emphasize the absurdity of assuming that a terrorist would label a bomb with such a sticker, questioning the logic behind these security responses. Participants in the conversation also reflect on the nature of improvised munitions and the perceived incompetence of terrorists, suggesting that the fear surrounding these incidents may be exaggerated. The overall sentiment conveys frustration over the misinterpretation of harmless band references as threats, raising concerns about the effectiveness and rationality of current security measures.
TheStatutoryApe
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This Bike is a Pipe Bomb...

In this age of metal detectors and terror alert lists, a loophole in national security has been exposed in sleepy Portland on a TriMet bus...if you believe terrorists are kind enough to label their bombs.

At 4:24 pm last Thursday, April 13, a westbound No. 15 bus stopped for Ben Leavitt at the corner of Southeast 38th Avenue and Belmont Street. Leavitt, 25, secured his black 10-speed on the bike rack, then put one foot on the first step of the bus.

Leavitt says the driver yelled, "Get your bike off my bus!" When he asked why, the driver pointed to a sticker on his bike. It bore the name of one of Leavitt's favorite bands, the Florida folk-punk group "This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb."
http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3224/7453
This just seems ridiculous. The older story of a similar incident is even more so ridiculous though...
Ohio University will reimburse a graduate student for a bicycle that was destroyed after officials mistakenly believed a sticker displaying the name of a punk band was a bomb threat. The band's name is "This Bike is a Pipe Bomb."

A university attorney says the replacement cost of the seven-year-old touring bike is between $800 and $1,300.

The sticker on Patrick Hanlin's bike led authorities on March Fifth to shut down four campus buildings, block off streets and summon a bomb squad from Columbus. The bomb experts destroyed the bike to find no bomb inside.

In an e-mail, Hanlin had asked university officials to consider replacing the bike. A charge of inducing panic had been filed against Hanlin, who is from of Three Rivers, Michigan, but it was later dropped.
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=4707014

And here's a pic and description of the sticker...
http://www.stickergiant.com/page/sg/PROD/bicycle/mcs134?utm_source=froogle
Who the heck is going to think that a terrorist goes out and has vinyl stickers printed up to label their bombs with let alone label them so specifically?
 
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Who the heck is going to think that a terrorist goes out and has vinyl stickers printed up to label their bombs with let alone label them so specifically?

Agreed. And who would think a terrorist would be stupid enough to put c4 in his sneakers and try to light it up with a match?
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
Agreed. And who would think a terrorist would be stupid enough to put c4 in his sneakers and try to light it up with a match?
That's called improvised munitions and is something that terrorists are trained in. Have you ever read a book on improvised munitions? Exploding candy bars, exploding beds, exploding whistles... I don't remember ever seeing anyone trained to have people print up labels for their bombs though. Uhoh... look out for the BMX bomber folks. Just check and see if there's a sticker on the thing to tell if it's a bomb ok?
 
That's called improvised munitions and is something that terrorists are trained in.

If you are trying to detonate c4 with a match, your not very well trained. That's all I was getting at. Terrorists are stupid too, you'd be supprised.
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
If you are trying to detonate c4 with a match, your not very well trained. That's all I was getting at. Terrorists are stupid too, you'd be supprised.
Lol... sorry. I was thinking about as clearly on that as if I were trying to light c4 with a match.:biggrin:
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
If you are trying to detonate c4 with a match, your not very well trained. That's all I was getting at. Terrorists are stupid too, you'd be supprised.

Now how would you know about terrorist training? :wink:
 
I'm getting me one of those! Tempting fate? maybe, but I think it'd be a laugh.
Probably best insure the bike first though... :rolleyes:
 

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