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Threat to 3GSM as bomb-making kit found in Barcelona just before Mobile World Congress

The discovery of bomb-making materials in Barcelona last weekend, is being studiously ignored by the world's mobile gurus as they plan their visit next month, for Mobile World congress. But the reality is that even if not a single squib goes off, the show will be ruined for many delegates by the inevitably increased security.

According to Ben Harding, police in Barcelona believe the bomb-making materials they found were intended for use in that city. However, the report makes no mention of the most probable target for that attack - the imminent arrival of the world's Press with its sights on the highest profile gadget industry.

NewsWireless has spoken to several senior mobile industry mavens, most of whom said "Please don't quote me" but who said they won't be going.

One senior publicity expert said: "I was taking a break this year anyway, but there's no way I'd go now, even if I had planned it. It's going to be insane; inspections of every phone, take the battery off, let's see that notebook working, what do you mean 'it's a prototype and doesn't work' ? and the queues are going to be impossible."

A marketing boss for a mobile phone maker said: "I was planning on going, but I'd missed the bomb story. There's no way I'm going now. There are too many targets, and the mobile industry is heavily dependent on Israeli R&D and manufacture for me to feel safe in the town, never mind the convention area."

But the bulk of those contacted said they'd be going. "You have to, don't you?" was the consensus.

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