Toothpaste threat puts focus on Sochi security

Athletes are arriving in Russia for the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics. As they arrive, officials are warning of another potential threat — especially concerning travel to Sochi.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warns toothpaste tubes and cosmetic containers could be used to smuggle explosive materials onto flights into Russia or Sochi. The alert is specific to the start of the Olympics.

CNN reports that intelligence is picking up increased chatter about regional transportation hubs outside the Sochi area.

Some, like the former CEO of the Salt Lake City winter games organizing committee, Mitt Romney, say the security alert leaves a lot of open-ended questions. “In a setting like this, what is an airline to do or what is the TSA to do or a passenger to do with regards to toothpaste?”

“Are we going to put in place immediately restrictions on any kind of tubes or any kind of cosmetics going in flights going towards Russia?”

Secretary of State John Kerry says people who want to go to the Olympics should still go. He says the venues will be as safe as any large public event can be.

The Russians aren’t sharing as much information with other countries as the Chinese did when they hosted the Beijing summer Olympics in 2008.