Airport Screeners Let Bomb Materials Through

Federal agents tested security screeners at 21 U.S. airports by carrying bomb-making materials - and not a single would-be "suicide bomber" was detected.

"In all 21 airports tested, no machine, no swab, no screener anywhere stopped the bomb materials from getting through," according to a report from NBC Nightly News that cited government sources.

"Even when investigators deliberately triggered extra screening of bags, no one stopped these materials."

For security reasons, NBC said it would not name the airports nor the ingredients involved in the tests, which were conducted by the Government Accountability Office, the watchdog arm of Congress.

Congress had requested the investigation to gauge the vulnerability of U.S. airlines to suicide bombers using easy-to-obtain materials, NBC said.

The Transportation Security Administration had no comment on the report, but acknowledged in a statement that detecting explosive materials at checkpoints was the agency's top priority.