Packages of silicone cause commotion at the airport

Evi Mariani and P.C. Naommy, Jakarta

Three packages at the center of a bomb scare at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport on Tuesday turned out to contain a harmless substance, police said.

The scare began when the packages, part of the baggage of a Garuda airlines domestic passenger, went through an airport X-ray machine.

Airport staff suspected the packages, which were packed with a fine grainy substance, contained bomb chemicals.

Security officials contacted the police, who then called members of the bomb squad.

After further examination, it was found the packages contained silicone silt, a harmless substance, Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said. Silicone silt is commonly used as an industrial insulator.

Despite the find, airport officials later confiscated the packages for testing at the National Police Headquarters.

The packages belonged to Ramli Aceh, who told officials he was overseeing electrical installations at the PT Semen Andalas cement factory in Aceh.

Ramli and two associates were allowed by the officials to take their Garuda flight at 6:40 a.m. to Medan.

The director of airport operator PT Angkasa Pura, I Gusti Made Dordi, said security officers did not prevent the three men from flying because they did not want passengers to complain about a delay.

National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung Soedjono said police had contacted the Polonia Airport Police in Medan, who would question the three passengers upon their arrival.

Salempang said while the silicone was not categorized as a hazardous substance, it could be used for making bombs.

Silicone silt is usually used to insulate electric cables.

"The silt is being checked at the forensic lab at the National Police headquarters ... we're waiting for the complete result to determine the next step," he said.

"We are also waiting for the results of the police investigation in Medan," Salempang said.