An epidemic of laser attacks on passenger air-liners during landing at Manchester and other airports has resulted in a firm police response in tracking down, arresting and successfully prosecuting the culprits who usually turn out to be local yobs.

However such firm police action may not go so far in protecting and acting on incidence involving the general public at least at Manchester Airport as recent experience illustrates.

Very recently in and around the Terminal 1 Arrivals area of Manchester Airport, whilst on foot I was temporarily blinded (for 15minutes) by what I concluded as being some sort of laser device. It took some time to realise what had transpired as the immediate reaction was what one experiences when a camera flash has gone off, so it is not something that I took much notice off, only that tje burned imprinted image continued to persist that took the form of a hatched pulsating pattern, of greater strength in one eye then the other, something that I had not experienced before.

After a few minutes, realisation dawned that this is not right and the uniformity of the hatched pattern suggested it was as a consequence of an electronic device, so on existing Terminal Arrivals I approached and informed a mobile police officer of the incident and where I think it may have taken place.

Unfortunately due to the fact I had been blinded I was not able to give a definitive description of exactly what could have transpired, the police officer took no action, despite the fact that the airport is awash with CCTV camera's. Instead after a few more minutes the pattern started to dissipate and I was able to make the journey home with no reoccurrence since, further confirming that I was in fact blinded by some sort of laser device at the airport.

Therefore the general public need to be aware of the potential danger in around at least Terminal 1 Manchester Airport. The incident occurred anywhere from the ground floor open air foot path from Terminal 3 into Terminal 1 Arrivals near the inside car payment section which is where I fully realised that there was a persisting hatched pattern that was preventing me from seeing, resulting in ability to read the car parking ticket.

If I had to opt for a location, I would say the incident took place near the Arrivals car park payment machine inside the the airport (next to the toilets) because that is where I first became fully conscious of the problem.

Possibilities in order of probability are -

1. That a laser device was flashed in my direction.

2. Laser based equipment in and around the parking payment station at Terminal 1 Arrivals malfunctioned or was misused by airport staff.

3. It could have been medical related - Though never experienced anything similar either before or since.

In any respect, if you experience any out of the ordinary problem with your vision at Manchester airport then report it the police, if enough incidents are reported then maybe the police will investigate rather than choose to ignore such incidents leaving victims to investigate the incidents themselves.

By Nadeem Walayat

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk

Nadeem Walayat has over 25 years experience of trading derivatives, portfolio management and analysing the financial markets, including one of few who both anticipated and Beat the 1987 Crash. Nadeem's forward looking analysis focuses on UK inflation, economy, interest rates and housing market. He is the author of three ebook's - The Inflation Mega-Trend; The Interest Rate Mega-Trend and The Stocks Stealth Bull Market Update 2011 that can be downloaded for Free.

Nadeem is the Editor of The Market Oracle, a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication that presents in-depth analysis from over 600 experienced analysts on a range of views of the probable direction of the financial markets, thus enabling our readers to arrive at an informed opinion on future market direction. http://www.marketoracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any trading losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors before engaging in any trading activities.

Nadeem Walayat Archive

Comments

Fubby Loopher
12 Jul 12, 10:06

Could have been a migrane

I get these things in my vision where there are arbitrarily shaped shimmering regions, but they're in both eyes. Sometimes coffee triggers it. They're a form of a migrane. They go away after 15-30 minutes. When you close your eyes you can get an idea of the shape, but it's very hard to pin down, it's kind of foggy and diffuse.

Makes it difficult to read. Both eyes are not necessarily identical. You might have had one of these.

Dr Ray
12 Jul 12, 16:40

Blinding

Nadeem,

Have someone examine your eyes. A medical problem such as amaurosis fugax or even a retinal detachment could account for this and need to be treated to prevent permanent loss of vision or worse

Regards

Raj
12 Jul 12, 18:36

Sorry to hear this

Please go and see a doctor to confirm , best tO catch these things early if anything, hope it doesn't reoccur.

Raj

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