From the link:
If ignited, the one-third pound of C-4 explosives and blasting cord would have had enough power to level the station, he said.
A bit of over exaggeration. During demo training once I took an entire 4 pound block of C-4 wrapped with about 40 feet of det cord and placed it under a log weighing about 200 pounds. It blew the log about 100 feet in the air. It forms very well. Also once formed a 1/2 pound piece to look like a human head and affectionately named it George. Wrapped "George" with det cord and blasted a bunch of bricks with it.
C-4 isn't what the uneducated make it out to be. Sure, it's powerful. However, one requires a large amount just to blow a bridge. One aspect many people don't know is that one can break off a small amount, light it with a ligher or match and heat your coffee with it. Just don't step on it to put it out. Bad, bad toe popper. Also, don't ever make the mistake and confuse det cord with timed fuse either. You'll never make that particular mistake again.
While det cord is very volatile and burns ultra quick (have used it to sever branches from trees), it would require quite a bit to "level the station". They mention 1000 ft of det cord. The amount they describe in the article would have definitely blown out the lockers and probably a wall or two. Shattered the glass in the building. I couldn't see it leveling the station though.
<edit> A bit more on the article </edit>
Authorities said they are trying to trace the C-4, but do not yet know where it came from or whether it was placed in the terminal as part of a terrorist plot.
They can trace the demo by the lot number. The det cord should be in rolls with the lot number on it. That small of amount of C-4 probably wasn't in the carry bag.
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