美国警告称恐怖分子或对索契冬奥会发动“牙膏炸弹”袭击

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."据美国哥伦比亚广播公司2月5日报道，俄罗斯索契冬奥会开幕在即，美国当局提醒各大航空公司，恐怖分子可能会使用“牙膏炸弹”炸毁飞往俄罗斯的航班。

按照美国现行机场安检条例，乘客只能携带小剂量的牙膏或化妆品登机。美国国土安全部警告称，恐怖分子们可能会协同作案、将制造炸弹所需的化学物品藏在多个牙膏或护肤品中，在飞机起飞后制作简易炸弹。

据消息人士透露：“从技术上看，牙膏管和打印机墨盒、鞋子的功效一样，都可以用来储存制造炸弹的化学成分。它可能成为（恐怖分子）‘新宠’。”不过一名联邦反恐官员表示，目前尚未发现涉及牙膏的恐怖威胁。

目前没有迹象表明美国或美国公民会成为恐怖袭击目标，不过美国国务院还是建议参加冬奥会的美国公民注意安全。此外，冬奥会期间往来俄罗斯的航班也需保持警惕。5日当天发布的警告称，“谨慎起见，美国国土安全部定期与国内外合作伙伴共享情报信息，包括事关索契冬奥会这类大型国际活动的信息。”

日前，数名车臣女性嫌犯在奥地利和法国被捕，他们涉嫌偷偷携带爆炸物品登机。美国国土安全部的这次警告正是在这种形势下发布的。由于邻近局势动荡的北高加索地区，索契冬奥会的安保问题一直是外界关注的焦点。

早在2004年8月，两架俄罗斯客机遭遇自杀式爆炸袭击，据信袭击者正是将炸药藏在面霜中。