Security scrutiny because of music choice???

ferret88 · 04-10-2006, 02:32 PM

(From AP - London)
You expect to have your luggage scrutinized at the airport. But how about your choice of music?
Security staff at a British airport stopped a businessman from catching a flight because the songs he had asked a taxi driver to play on the car stereo made the driver suspicious, police said.

Harraj Mann, who is of Indian origin, had the songs stored on an MP3 player, which the cab was equipped to play on its stereo. Mann asked the driver to play London Calling by the Clash as they headed for Tees Valley International Airport near Darlington in northern England on March 30, news reports said.

The lyrics include the words "London calling from the faraway towns, now war is declared and battle come down/ London calling to the underworld, come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls."

Mann, 24, also asked the driver to play Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin, which begins, "The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands, to fight the horde singing and crying Valhalla, I'm coming!"

The driver alerted airport authorities and Mann was arrested as he boarded a flight for London's Heathrow Airport. He missed the flight and later took a taxi home.

Durham Police said the plane took off before they had established that the man was not a threat.

"In this case the report was made with the best of intentions and we would not want to discourage people from contacting us with genuine concerns regarding security," police said in a statement.

WTF?

Isn't that going a little too far?

What's next?

smoothmoniker · 04-10-2006, 02:58 PM

That's just insane. Are you sure that's the whole story? I mean, did the conversation with the cabbie go something like:

"Hey bro, mind kicking on some militant protest music? I'm about to bomb an international flight, and I could use the adrenaline rush."

Because that would make more sense, in that case.

ferret88 · 04-10-2006, 04:48 PM

hey, i just relayed it as found on USAToday.com.

i'm in the industry, so i read stuff like that, sad as that is.

Griff · 04-10-2006, 06:24 PM

The story I read had him singing it at the top of his lungs. London Calling is one of my favorite albums and I think the world has gone insane. Imagine a a time when stressed out teens are unable to vent through music. The next generation is not catching any breaks.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-11-2006, 10:23 PM

See, if he'd had an Uzi he could have made that flight.

04-10-2006, 02:32 PM	#1
ferret88 (This space left intentionally UN-blank.) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 604	Security scrutiny because of music choice??? (From AP - London) You expect to have your luggage scrutinized at the airport. But how about your choice of music? Security staff at a British airport stopped a businessman from catching a flight because the songs he had asked a taxi driver to play on the car stereo made the driver suspicious, police said. Harraj Mann, who is of Indian origin, had the songs stored on an MP3 player, which the cab was equipped to play on its stereo. Mann asked the driver to play London Calling by the Clash as they headed for Tees Valley International Airport near Darlington in northern England on March 30, news reports said. The lyrics include the words "London calling from the faraway towns, now war is declared and battle come down/ London calling to the underworld, come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls." Mann, 24, also asked the driver to play Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin, which begins, "The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands, to fight the horde singing and crying Valhalla, I'm coming!" The driver alerted airport authorities and Mann was arrested as he boarded a flight for London's Heathrow Airport. He missed the flight and later took a taxi home. Durham Police said the plane took off before they had established that the man was not a threat. "In this case the report was made with the best of intentions and we would not want to discourage people from contacting us with genuine concerns regarding security," police said in a statement. WTF? Isn't that going a little too far? What's next?

04-10-2006, 02:58 PM	#2
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	That's just insane. Are you sure that's the whole story? I mean, did the conversation with the cabbie go something like: "Hey bro, mind kicking on some militant protest music? I'm about to bomb an international flight, and I could use the adrenaline rush." Because that would make more sense, in that case. __________________ to live and die in LA

04-10-2006, 06:24 PM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	The story I read had him singing it at the top of his lungs. London Calling is one of my favorite albums and I think the world has gone insane. Imagine a a time when stressed out teens are unable to vent through music. The next generation is not catching any breaks. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

04-11-2006, 10:23 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	See, if he'd had an Uzi he could have made that flight. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-10-2006, 04:48 PM	#3
ferret88 (This space left intentionally UN-blank.) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 604	hey, i just relayed it as found on USAToday.com. i'm in the industry, so i read stuff like that, sad as that is.

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