Grenade in Luggage Sparks Alert at Los Angeles Airport
A man has been arrested after a smoke grenade was found in his luggage at Los Angeles International Airport.
The man was reportedly dressed in a bulletproof vest, as well as fire resistant pants at the time of his arrest. Officials also found a number of worrying items on the assailant, including a gas mask, leg irons and weapons, according to federal authorities.
Yongda Huang Harris, 28, was arrested on suspicion of transporting hazardous materials on a flight from Japan, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.
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Although officials do not at the moment believe there is any evidence the man was connected to a terrorist organization, it is believed he could have had bad motives, but they are still to be determined.
Harris is a United States citizen, who has a permanent residence recorded as in Boston, although he recently started living and working in Japan.
He has now been charged with transporting hazardous materials, which is an offense that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
A spokesperson, Chris Williams, for Harris' attorney, Steven Seiden, has said, "It raises a lot of questions, and those questions will need to be answered. Right now the case is very early."
The man brought alarm to officials at LAX when he was spotted wearing the bulletproof vest, and they soon realized he was also wearing fire-resistant pants, according to the Associated Press.
His bag was then searched where officials also found knives, body bags, a hatchet, a collapsible baton, a biohazard suit, a full-face respirator, billy clubs, handcuffs, leg irons and a device to repel dogs, authorities have said.
Federal officials said in a news release, "Depending on the conditions when it is ignited, the smoke grenade, made by Commando Manufacturers, could potentially fill the cabin of a commercial airplane with smoke or cause a fire."
