美國警告稱恐怖分子或對索契冬奧會發動“牙膏炸彈”襲擊

The United States has warned airlines that terrorists looking to disrupt the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, could conceal bomb-making components in toothpaste tubes or skin care product containers, CBS News confirmed Wednesday.

The worry is that teams of operatives could smuggle those tubes on board a plane along with other component parts and then assemble an improvised explosive device while the plane is in flight, U.S. officials said.

They said the potential threat is aimed at Russia and the Sochi Olympics, which kick off Friday.

A U.S. intelligence source told CBS News on Wednesday that Russia has banned all liquids from being brought on board flights in carry-on baggage. Anything containing liquid, no matter how small an amount, must be in checked luggage.

The Department of Homeland Security has issued the warning to U.S. airlines and some foreign airlines as well.

Officials said there is no indication that the United States or Americans would be targeted, but the warning was given to U.S. carriers operating direct flights to Russia.

"Out of an abundance of caution, DHS regularly shares relevant information with domestic and international partners, including those associated with international events such as the Sochi Olympics," the warning said.

The alert came after the arrests of female Chechen suspects in Austria and France as part of a probe into an alleged terror organization that was talking about smuggling explosives onto aircraft, sources said. The suspects in Austria were released due to lack of suspects in France are still believed to be in detention.

The U.S. currently has regulations banning passengers from bringing on board any containers with more than 3 fluid ounces of any liquid or gel. That includes toothpaste containers.

Officials are not aware of any specific threat involving toothpaste tubes, a federal terrorism official told CBS News.

"To make people aware is a good thing," the source said.

"Technically, toothpaste tubes could be used to conceal bomb-making ingredients, just like printer cartridges or a shoe. This may be the new hot item," the source said.

While Russia says it has established a "ring of steel" around the Olympic venues, there have been widespread concerns that Muslim militants from the Caucasus could attack the games. Some U.S. athletes have said they have asked their families to stay home.

Russian authorities have issued wanted posters for so-called "black widows," women whose husbands, brothers or fathers have been killed by Russian security forces and may be seeking revenge.

Russian security services have waged a take-no-prisoners assault in Dagestan, just a few hundred miles from Sochi. Dagestan, along with neighboring Chechnya, is home to an Islamic insurgency that has been battling Russian forces for years.

It's where Tamerlan Tsarnaev lived for months before authorities say he and his brother launched a bomb attack on the Boston Marathon last April.

The State Department has advised Americans traveling to the Olympics to "remain attentive regarding their personal security at all times."據美國哥倫比亞廣播公司2月5日報道，俄羅斯索契冬奧會開幕在即，美國當局提醒各大航空公司，恐怖分子可能會使用“牙膏炸彈”炸燬飛往俄羅斯的航班。

按照美國現行機場安檢條例，乘客只能攜帶小劑量的牙膏或化妝品登機。美國國土安全部警告稱，恐怖分子們可能會協同作案、將製造炸彈所需的化學物品藏在多個牙膏或護膚品中，在飛機起飛後製作簡易炸彈。

據消息人士透露：“從技術上看，牙膏管和打印機墨盒、鞋子的功效一樣，都可以用來儲存製造炸彈的化學成分。它可能成爲（恐怖分子）‘新寵’。”不過一名聯邦反恐官員表示，目前尚未發現涉及牙膏的恐怖威脅。

目前沒有跡象表明美國或美國公民會成爲恐怖襲擊目標，不過美國國務院還是建議參加冬奧會的美國公民注意安全。此外，冬奧會期間往來俄羅斯的航班也需保持警惕。5日當天發佈的警告稱，“謹慎起見，美國國土安全部定期與國內外合作伙伴共享情報信息，包括事關索契冬奧會這類大型國際活動的信息。”

日前，數名車臣女性嫌犯在奧地利和法國被捕，他們涉嫌偷偷攜帶爆炸物品登機。美國國土安全部的這次警告正是在這種形勢下發布的。由於鄰近局勢動盪的北高加索地區，索契冬奧會的安保問題一直是外界關注的焦點。

早在2004年8月，兩架俄羅斯客機遭遇自殺式爆炸襲擊，據信襲擊者正是將炸藥藏在面霜中。