Possible Explosive Found in Luggage at New York Airport, Causing Flight Delays
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A would-be airline passenger was arrested at Long Island's MacArthur Airport Thursday after officials found a potential "improvised explosive device" and other suspicious items in his luggage, Newsday reported.
The items, which also included wires and a folding knife, were detected in the carry-on and checked baggage of a Las Vegas man at a Southwest Airlines checkpoint. The unidentified suspect, who was not believed to be tied to any terrorist groups, was taken into custody, according to Newsday.
The 7:46 a.m. discovery prompted the evacuation of the checkpoint area and led to several flight delays.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MacArthur's commissioner of aviation and transportation, Teresa Rizzuto, said some of the items "resembled fireworks."
The investigation has been turned over to the FBI, but an agent did not immediately return a call from the New York newspaper for comment.
Law enforcement sources told Newsday that the specific type of device, which could be a smoke or pipe bomb, will not be known for sure until it can be defused and examined.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Suffolk County bomb squad removed the suspected IED and other items, and the checkpoint was reopened at 9:05 a.m.
About 500 passengers were delayed in boarding their flights, Rizzuto said.
Click here to read more on this story from Newsday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.