A Japanese man was arrested at Hawaii’s Hilo International Airport after security screeners allegedly spotted two items in his bag that looked like grenades, but which turned out to be “inert”, said local police.
“Personnel responded to a report by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff that two items resembling grenades were detected during x-ray screening within a carry-on bag”, a statement from the Hawaii Police Department said.
Officers evacuated the terminal area and halted the airport’s operations while a bomb squad “determined the items to be inert grenades”, police said in the statement.
Police arrested the 41-year-old man from Kanazawa, Japan, on suspicion of “first-degree terroristic threatening” and named him as Akito Fukushima. Officers told local media that it wasn’t clear where the grenades came from nor what he intended to do with them.
“He cooperated with officials, however, it is undetermined at this time as detectives are continuing their investigation,” Hawaii Police Capt Brian Prudencio told the Khon2 local television station.
Fukushima was taken to the East Hawaii detention facility and remains in custody while police continue their investigation, according to the statement.
Airport operations resumed just over an hour after they were suspended.
“We remind the public to be mindful of what they travel with. If they have any questions, contact the TSA for any items that -- whether or not they question, what they can travel with,” Prudencio said.
“When a traveller brings any type of grenade to the airport, it causes operations to shut down and delays travellers,” Lorie Dankers, a spokesperson for the Transport Security Administration (TSA) told Khon2 TV.
“Please, be aware of the contents of your luggage prior to coming to the airport to avoid this type of situation from occurring.”
The Transportation Security Administration prohibits replicas of explosives, including hand grenades, in checked or carry-on luggage.
With Associated Press
