London: In their efforts to pursue terror tactics, al-Qaeda extremists may use women suicide bombers to smuggle explosives on board an aircraft.

A leading al-Qaeda organiser, held in custody, is understood to have told his captors that a woman was thought more likely to evade airport security. According to a report in 'The Times' today (Feb 21, 2004), he suggested that a woman has already been selected for the attack, which could involve a British aircraft.

A British security source told the daily, "The terrorists know there are sensitivities about making intimate body searches of women, particularly Muslim women, and thus you can see why some groups might be planning to use a female suicide bomber. Hiding explosives in an intimate part of the body means even less chance of detection."

The report said a woman could hide up to 12 pounds of plastic explosive inside her body. The detonator and other components, which can easily be hidden in a watch, mobile telephone or electrical device, could be taken aboard by an accomplice or in hand luggage.

According to the report, the explosive device would be assembled in mid-air in an aircraft lavatory.

Quoting experts, the report said 12 pounds of explosive would blow a hole in the fuselage. The prospect of a so-called "she-bomber" was investigated by British officials in the run-up to Christmas, when a number of flights to America and the Gulf were cancelled.