Ed
04-01-2008, 04:30 PM
This is still a developing story; watch for updates...
From OrlandoSentinel.com
Bomb materials found in man's luggage at Orlando International Airport
Jim Leusner, Jason Garcia and Willoughby Mariano
Sentinel Staff Writers
3:30 PM EDT, April 1, 2008
A Jamaican man who was planning to board an Air Jamaica flight at Orlando International Airport was detained and questioned by federal agents after they found him with components for pipe bombs and other explosive materials in his luggage, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.
The suspect, who has not been identified, was scheduled to fly on Air Jamaica Flight 80 to Montego Bay at 2:55 p.m. when Transportation Security Administration officers spotted him acting suspiciously around noon, TSA and law enforcement officials said.
The suspect was questioned and an Orlando Police Department bomb squad searched his luggage turning up "suspicious items," according to TSA officials.
Law enforcement officials said among the materials found were unassembled pipes with end caps, metal ball bearings and other potentially explosive materials.
"We're responding as if it's the real deal," FBI spokesman David Couvertier said. "It's a serious situation until we decide otherwise." The area around check-in locations for Virgin Atlantic and Air Jamaica at Orlando International Airport have been evacuated this afternoon.
TSA officers spotted a passenger they believed was acting oddly at about noon today and "suspicious items" were found in in the passenger's checked luggage. A TSA spokeswoman declined to identify what they were, citing an ongoing investigation.
Officers established a 300-foot perimeter around the checked bag and the passenger was taken into custody, according to the statement.
OIA spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said she did not know what the items were, and the suspicious items were found after security agents confronted the passenger.
"The bags have been isolated and are being checked," Fennell said.
Airport officials are now at least temporarily routing passengers away from the Virgin Atlantic and Air Jamaica check-in areas, which are on the A-side of OIA's main terminal.
Flight operation and check-in continues, according to the TSA.
Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel
From OrlandoSentinel.com
Bomb materials found in man's luggage at Orlando International Airport
Jim Leusner, Jason Garcia and Willoughby Mariano
Sentinel Staff Writers
3:30 PM EDT, April 1, 2008
A Jamaican man who was planning to board an Air Jamaica flight at Orlando International Airport was detained and questioned by federal agents after they found him with components for pipe bombs and other explosive materials in his luggage, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.
The suspect, who has not been identified, was scheduled to fly on Air Jamaica Flight 80 to Montego Bay at 2:55 p.m. when Transportation Security Administration officers spotted him acting suspiciously around noon, TSA and law enforcement officials said.
The suspect was questioned and an Orlando Police Department bomb squad searched his luggage turning up "suspicious items," according to TSA officials.
Law enforcement officials said among the materials found were unassembled pipes with end caps, metal ball bearings and other potentially explosive materials.
"We're responding as if it's the real deal," FBI spokesman David Couvertier said. "It's a serious situation until we decide otherwise." The area around check-in locations for Virgin Atlantic and Air Jamaica at Orlando International Airport have been evacuated this afternoon.
TSA officers spotted a passenger they believed was acting oddly at about noon today and "suspicious items" were found in in the passenger's checked luggage. A TSA spokeswoman declined to identify what they were, citing an ongoing investigation.
Officers established a 300-foot perimeter around the checked bag and the passenger was taken into custody, according to the statement.
OIA spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said she did not know what the items were, and the suspicious items were found after security agents confronted the passenger.
"The bags have been isolated and are being checked," Fennell said.
Airport officials are now at least temporarily routing passengers away from the Virgin Atlantic and Air Jamaica check-in areas, which are on the A-side of OIA's main terminal.
Flight operation and check-in continues, according to the TSA.
Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel