As a wise man once said, you can’t yell bomb on an airplane. Turns out, you can’t bring one, either, even if it’s fake. Who knew? A spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration announced Friday that a supposed TV crew tried bringing an imitation explosive past security at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
Several arrested by police on Thursday after @TSA detected a suspicious item in a carry-on bag at a Newark Airport checkpoint. They
attempted to intentionally carry an item in a carry-on bag
that had all of the makings of an IED and film it for a TV show. TSA caught them. pic.twitter.com/DCMa0ucAcl— TSAmedia_LisaF (@TSAmedia_LisaF) January 19, 2018
Some of the suspects tried to bring the fake bomb in a carry-on roller bag through a security checkpoint, the TSA said in a statement. The others secretly filmed the attempt. They allegedly wanted to see if they could get away with doing it. Agents nonetheless managed to discover the item. Authorities described the inside of the bag as having a motor, wires, and PVC pipes, which they described as “indicators of an improvised explosive device such as a pipe bomb.”
It’s still pretty unclear who these guys supposedly work for, as told in NJ‘s report on this matter. According to the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey, the nine suspects said they worked for a TV station, but cops didn’t find press credentials. Each person faces charges of false public alarm, interference with transportation, and conspiracy. Samuel Micah Berns, 39; Carlos F. Gonzalez, 33; Timothy S. Duffy, 34; Adolfo Lacola, 51; Ruben M. Montenegro, 44; Philip K. Nakagami, 26; Williams Oaks, 36; Michael L. Palmer, 51; and Jacob M. Towsley, 34. All nine were reportedly released without bail. They also face possible civil penalties of over $13,000 for each violation of a security regulation, the TSA said. The suspects could not be reached for comment.
[Image via TSA]
