Laser 'cluster' attack in Sydney - Page 2

Nigel C · #11 2nd April 2008, 03:37 AM

Quote:

ASIO to take on laser attack epidemic

By Stephen Lunn
April 02, 2008 01:34am

ASIO, federal police and other key government agencies will hold urgent talks today to thrash out a strategy to tackle the growing epidemic of laser attacks on passenger jets at major Australian airports.

The top-level Canberra meeting will be urged to ban the sale of the high-powered lasers and push for even tougher penalties on people caught using the lights to disrupt flights.

The meeting, which will include officials from the Australian Customs Service, ASIO, the AFP, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Air Services Australia and the federal Attorney-General and Transport Department, comes as the number of attacks increases, despite harsher penalties introduced last year.

Penalties were increased to two years' jail and fines of up to $30,000. But authorities have to date struggled to track down the culprits and are exploring new tracking technology to pinpoint the source of laser attacks.

Today's meeting has been called after six aircraft flying into Sydney airport last Friday night reported being targeted by lasers over a 15-minute period, a situation Air Services Australia spokesman Bryan Nicholson described as "the worst attack in our experience".

Transport Department figures show 325 incidents were reported last year, with at least the same level of activity continuing this year. Some laser lights are capable of reaching as far as 5km.

Federal Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus asked Australian Customs Service chief executive Michael Carmody to convene the meeting, bringing the key departments together in order to provide a report to him by Friday.

"I have asked Customs to hold a high-level meeting on the serious matter of laser lights being shone at aircraft," Mr Debus told The Australian.

"We've had the possibility of banning the importation of laser lights under review for some time, but last week's incident means the matter has now become urgent.

"This type of behaviour is stupid, dangerous and illegal, and could seriously endanger the lives of aircraft passengers.

"Just last year, fines of $30,000 and two-year jail terms were introduced for people who interfere with aircraft in this way. But if tougher penalties are needed, the Government is more than happy to consider them."

One of the problems with banning the importation of lasers is that many come in through the postal system after being ordered over the internet, and are difficult to detect in X-ray machines.

Mr Nicholson said last Friday's incident at Sydney airport was particularly dangerous because it appeared to be co-ordinated.

The problem has left pilots concerned for both their own and their passengers' safety.

Because of the difficulty in locating the source of the attacks, police have struggled to make arrests. In January, police in Sydney arrested a man with a 125milliwatt laser in his possession after two planes in the Merrylands area were targeted.

It is understood the AFP are developing new mapping techniques to pinpoint the sources of recent laser attacks.

Lukas M · #12 2nd April 2008, 08:00 AM

This is now out of control, it deserves at least 10 years jail.

"Police are asking for help after reports of a laser attack on a plane over Bossley Park in Sydney last night"

"Police say the flight was from Cairns. They say they are investigating the complaint, apparently from a Virgin Blue pilot"

Paul McFarlane · #13 8th April 2008, 01:42 PM

from theadvertiser.com.au

Quote:

AN Adelaide man who was one of the first people in the nation to be prosecuted for shining a laser at an aircraft has been sent to jail.

Lanfranco Baldetti, 23, of Highbury, was sentenced to two years and three months' jail in the District Court today after pleading guilty to prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft.

The dangers of shining lasers at aircraft has gained national attention recently with attacks on planes in Sydney.

The Federal Government has moved to ban the importation of laser pointers, restrict their sale and crack down on who possesses them.

Baldetti shone a green laser at a helicopter being used by police looking for illegal driving activity in the Port Adelaide area in June last year.

The court heard the pilot saw the light flashing around the cockpit and was temporarily blinded for several seconds by two flashes to the eyes.

A police officer on board the helicopter, which was not a marked police helicopter, said the light was "extremely distracting" and he had to squint to protect his eyes.

The court was told that the flashes were dangerous considering the low level the helicopter was operating over a residential area.

Police on the ground were directed to Baldetti's vehicle and he gave them the laser he had used against the helicopter.

They searched his vehicle and found a rifle, silencer, ammunition and knuckledusters. Baldetti said the firearms were for shooting feral animals on a relative's property while the knuckledusters were left by a friend.

The court heard that when police put to Baldetti it was an offence to shine a laser at an aircraft he replied: "What about him shining a big f...ing torch at me."

Asked if he was aware of the dangers of shining a laser, Baldetti told police that "he started it".

Baldetti faced a maximum sentence of 14 years for his crime, which Judge David Smith said "must be regarded as a serious example of this offending".

"What occured here was a disaster in the making," he said.

Judge Smith said the court had to send a message to others that the "potential to create such a serious risk to public safety will not be tolerated".

Baldetti also pleaded guilty to weapons charges and had nine months added to his laser sentence.

Judge Smith reduced the total sentence by two months to take into account time already served in custody and ordered Baldetti serve a non-parole period of 10 months in jail.

Aviation safety authorities and pilots representatives welcomed the sentence.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said the sentence would send a message to those contemplating shining lasers at aircraft that they could go to jail.

Australian and International Pilots Association general manager Peter Somerville said he knew of two pilots who had been temporarily disabled by lasers being shone in their eyes and one had suffered permanent damage.

Last week NSW Premier Morris Iemma said anyone who shone laser pointers at planes was carrying out an act which had the potential to commit mass murder.

"These fools think it's a joke - it's not a joke if you end up blinding a pilot, bringing a plane down, and potentially killing dozens, if not hundreds, of people on the plane and on the ground," he said.

"This could be mass murder. I'm not exaggerating, this has the potential for mass murder. Bringing a plane down is catastrophic."