A 49-year-old Sacramento man was arrested after attempting to pass through a security checkpoint at Sacramento International Airport over the weekend carrying what authorities described as a functional explosive device, according to federal prosecutors.
The man was wearing a scarf covering his face and latex gloves when he approached the checkpoint, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said in a news release issued June 4. Along with the device, he was carrying a torch lighter, a knife, zip ties, and five cell phones, authorities said.
Evidence photos released by prosecutors show a cardboard tube approximately the size of a toilet paper roll fitted with a green fuse. Bomb technicians tested the powder and fuse material and determined they were “viable and energetic,” Grant said. Prosecutors described the device as powerful enough to damage an aircraft.
Authorities said one of the cell phones had a 15-minute timer already set to begin. Another phone displayed a message on its screen from a different phone number saying, “we will be awaiting your call.”
The arrest follows several recent incidents involving explosive devices at transportation hubs and other public locations across the United States. Earlier this spring, a Marine was detained at Palm Springs International Airport after Transportation Security Administration officers found a live explosive round in his carry-on luggage. In early April, law enforcement discovered at least 25 explosive devices inside an apartment in White Plains, New York. Federal charges were also filed in March in connection with an explosive device found at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.