Man With Boxcutters Arrested in N.J.

AP | 9/29/02

[kattracks]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Sep 29, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A Bulgarian national was arrested Sunday at Atlantic City International Airport after federal screeners found a pair of scissors embedded in a bar of soap and two boxcutters hidden in a lotion bottle in his backpack.

The 21-year-old man was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon. Egg Harbor Township police confirmed he was being held on $100,000 bond but did not immediately release his name.

Authorities said the man was a student from Bulgaria with a summer visa allowing him to work at an Atlantic City-area convenience store.

He was the last passenger to pass through screening Sunday for a flight from Atlantic City to Myrtle Beach, S.C., Transportation Security Administration spokesman Robert Johnson said.

When his backpack went through the X-ray machine, screeners spotted the scissors and pulled him aside, he said. A search of the backpack turned up the scissors, embedded in a bar of soap, and the boxcutters hidden in a lotion bottle, Johnson said.

"The concern was there may have been some effort to conceal them," said Johnson. He said the fact that the man's one-way ticket was purchased over the Internet in August also raised suspicion.

The man told authorities he packed the items that way to keep them from damaging anything else in his backpack, Johnson said. He said he bought the Spirit Airlines ticket so he could visit a friend in South Carolina before returning to Bulgaria.

"We're proud of the fact that our screeners caught it," Johnson said. "Here's an example of the federal screeners doing their job keeping these items off the plane, giving law enforcement a chance to sort through it."

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

[katykelly]

Probing the system to see what works?

[SauronOfMordor]

Authorities said the man was a student from Bulgaria

Bulgaria? Or maybe really Chechen...

[RedBloodedAmerican]

boxcutters and a pair of scissors imbedded into a bar of soap. He arrived and checked in at 4:45am, first one to do s, but was the last through security, 10 min after boarding started. Did we catch one?

[steveo]

embedded in a bar of soap and two boxcutters hidden in a lotion bottle in his backpack.

Reely vey series!

testing, testing, always testing

[Husker24]

"the concern was that there may have been some effort to conceal them"........well no sh*t! I always carry around a pair of scissors in a bar of soap, and routinely store my boxcutters in a bottle of lotion. This has all the earmarks of what the 19 hijackers did......one way ticket, last ones to board, internet ticket.

[truth_seeker]

This was a test. Despite continued skepticism, this proves that we are all safe, now. The CIA, FBI, INS are doing a wonderful job. I am so relieved.

I guess they should all get great big raises, in the next budget cycle.

[hole_n_one]

[livius]

Very strange. Why Myrtle Beach? Possibly because the flight would have would passed by Washington...still full of fuel?

But if this guy was a lone operator, I doubt that his chances would have been very good. Hope they checked everybody else on that plane - very carefully.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[When his backpack went through the X-ray machine, screeners spotted the scissors and pulled him aside, he said. A search of the backpack turned up the scissors, embedded in a bar of soap, and the boxcutters hidden in a lotion bottle, Johnson said.

The man told authorities he packed the items that way to keep them from damaging anything else in his backpack.]

Well, that explains it! No problem here!

These subumans are certainly evil, but they aren't candidates for MENSA, to be sure.

[Husker24]

The only way these people will be able to hijack an airliner again will only be if its an UPS or FEDEX plane with a small crew and no passengers.....what morons these people are.

[umgud]

They better start checking to see if he has any friends or associates flying today or in the near future.

[livius]

Is this the baggage checker that caught him? Give that lady a raise!

Actually, I read recently that it was expected that the jihadis would start using Eastern European Muslims, because they did not look "Arabic" and would not attract as much attention.

[GirlShortstop]

student from Bulgaria with a summer visa allowing him to work at an Atlantic City-area convenience store.

What a stupid freaking reason to give a visa to anyone! No more freaking visas, damnit!!!

Agreed. Awfully far to come to work a summer job in a convenience store, isn't it? I'm wondering if "the religion of peace " is yet again at work.

[terilyn]

WIPE THE SMILE OFF OF THIS MAN'S FACE.
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[mware]

Wow that is about 15 miles down the road from us.

It is also right next to the 177 Air Force Reserve Base. They are the ones who have been flying cover over NYC for over a year.

[tip of the sword]

The screeners always check the first one to the gate, especially if they fit the profile which this guy did to a 'T.'

[hole_n_one]

While the screener should be applauded for discovering the contraband, if I received a raise each time I simply did what my job requires, I could have retired 10 years ago.

As for the pic, look closely at what's in the suitcase as opposed to what has caught this screener's interest.

Let's just hope that their apparent recent display of diligence continues.

[LibertarianLiz]

I love all the ways they try not to tell you he is Muslim, which actually do tell you that he is Muslim:

A Bulgarian national

Well, if you read quickly you might think he was Bulgarian, but he is a "national". He came from there, but not a Bulgarian. This is the same thing they did with the "Swedish" hijacker a while back. They finally had to add the word "national".

Authorities said the man was a student from Bulgaria with a summer visa allowing him to work at an Atlantic City-area convenience store.

Let me see, working at a "convenience store". Yeah, lots of Bulgarians own convenience stores.

The media is just too much sometimes.