TA-THREATS: Explosive Device Found in Atlanta Airport

A portion of Atlanta's Hartfield-Jackson Int'l Airport was closed this morning when a "suspicious package" was found by a cleaning crew in a men's restroom.

WXIATV.com (Atlanta)

The package, described as a brown paper bag wrapped in duct tape with "components" protruding through it, was discovered around 10:50am EST. The FBI and TSA were immediately called to the area, and a robot removed the package to a safe location.

TSA official Eric Blum said earlier that an "explosive device" had been found in the aiport's bathroom. The device was taped to two other objects that appeared to be part of a detonation system.

Initial X-rays of the device showed what appeared to be a hand grenade minus the pin attached to a mobile radio or cell phone. The package was "rendered safe" and investigations are ongoing at this time.

The evacuated areas include a Delta ticket counter, a security screening point and several retail stores. The area was declared safe after approximately two hours, and operations resumed as normal. No flights were delayed or cancelled.

Hartfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest passenger airport in the world and is one of the largest connecting hubs for many major airlines.

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[Edited on 7-4-2004 by Banshee]

They've completely changed their tune on this one now. Now their saying it was a flare, not attached to a cell phone, and couldn't have been detonated. It makes you wonder if their is some secret, official policy to debunk these acts. Keeping in mind all of the disasters that have occurred recently, and the immediet statements that are released saying that "This is not an act of terrorism" etc...

"We are not prepared to share with you at this time anything in regards to that device," said Gregory Jones, special agent in charge for the Atlanta FBI, at a Wednesday afternoon news conference at the airport.

NBC Reporter Pete Williams said officials told him the device was a non-lethal military flare. It was not connected to a cell phone as previously thought and it could not have been detonated, Williams reported.

www.wxiatv.com...

[Edited on 4-7-2004 by William One Sac]

William One Sac > very true, thats the first statement made about any SNAFU as of late. Of course terrorist acts after all the legislation and measures taken to stop it would probably be a huge smack to Bush and his campaign to get a second term in office. Of course downplaying it also keeps the water calm so to speak, as an airport with lax security that allows bombs to make it inside probably would loose alot of business very fast.