BBC Watchdog: Watchdog finds "bomb switch" on eBay

Tony

What Consumer Founder
Apr 7, 2008
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Earlier this year, Watchdog alerted eBay to the sale of dangerous and illegal knives on their UK and Ireland sites.

In response, eBay banned trade in all knives, except for cutlery. Recently, we came across another alarming item being sold on the site - a type of tilt switch, described by the seller as a "bonnet light, boot lid, Al Qaeda bomb".

The object appears to be a light which you can attach to a car battery and stick under the bonnet. When the bonnet is raised, the switch forms a connection and switches the light on. In itself, this type of light is a legitimate item sold on the high street, however, according to the seller, it would also be "...ideal for any bomb maker ...alright if you're working for Al-Qaeda, or the latest IRA...".

These comments were made in a video posted by the seller on eBay, in which he dismantles the device to expose the switch inside.

One of the Watchdog team bid for the item and won the auction. The light was sold for 99p, plus £2.50 post and packaging.

The seller may have thought that describing the item as suitable for "any bomb maker" was just a bit of a joke. But the fact is that switches like this have often been used in bomb making. They've been used in various Irish paramilitary bombs - including the car bombs that killed solicitor Rosemary Nelson 1999 and MP Airey Neave in 1979.

Watchdog spoke to expert Steve Bevan, a former Warrant Officer 2nd Class in the Royal Engineers who has served in the Falklands and Northern Ireland.

According to Steve, "These are exactly the sorts of devices used as triggers. They are either used as a primary trigger for a booby trap, or an IED as they are these days, or they are used as a secondary trigger for anti-handling. They are quite easy to get hold of, but I am very surprised to see one listed like that on eBay. That's very naughty."

In response to Watchdog's findings eBay said:

"eBay regrets the ill-judged description used by this seller when he listed his item for sale on eBay. We have spoken with the seller who accepts that the description was inappropriate and may have caused offence to the small number of people who viewed it.

"The listing related to a common type of electrical component which is widely used in cars, motorcycles and domestic appliances, and is widely available on the high street. The sale of this component is legitimate and is not subject to legal restrictions.

"The seller recognises that it was irresponsible to market the item in the way he did and we have sought assurances from him that there will be no repeat incident."

Do you think eBay should they have spotted an item with the words "Al Qaeda" and "bomb" before Watchdog got in touch? Please post your comments and send us your stories.



Watchdog finds "bomb switch" on eBay