The bombs used in the cargo plane terror plot were at least 50 times more powerful than would be needed to blow a hole in an aircraft fuselage, officials said today.
Experts in Germany said the bombs at East Midlands Airport and in Dubai contained at least 300g (10.58oz) of the powerful explosive PETN as Theresa May, the Home Secretary, announced a review of all air freight security.
UK explosives expert Sidney Alford told CNN last year that just 6g of PETN would be enough to punch a hole into a metal plate twice the thickness of an aircraft fuselage.