Posted on 09/27/2004 7:39:05 AM PDT by areafiftyone
A Queens man was arrested after police found substances used in the manufacturing of explosives in his van near the Atlantic Beach Bridge on Long Island.
Nassau County Police say an officer on the way to another assignment saw a van parked near some high reeds off Route 878 in Lawrence at about 6:30 Friday night. 56-year-old Hippocrates Koutosoupakis of Astoria was found nearby.
Police say the potentially dangerous substances were inside Koutosoupakis's van and that it "was his intention to cause an explosion."
Authorities say Koutosopakis was wearing military-style suspenders with pockets containing tools and a propane torch. He also allegedly had a stun gun.
The Daily News reports this morning, Koutosopakis also had with him rappelling gear and a map of nearby Kennedy airport. Also, a search of his home turned up several improvised explosives.
Koutosopakis is a Vietnam veteran with no prior criminal record, according to the News.
He's charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree criminal possession of a dangerous instrument.
The nearby Atlantic Beach Bridge was closed for 16 hours as a precaution but reopened after investigators found nothing.
Lawrence LI is a flat, landfilled salt marsh. The Atlantic Beach Bridge is a low, concrete draw bridge that connects this former marsh to a barrier island of sand. Not a lot of blasting goes on there.
My first thoughts exactly. Convert to Islam or commando wannabe nut case?
Perhaps you should read the whole thread.
Well, if he actually had any explosives with him, I'd say that would be more than a bit suspicious, but the article said his van had materials used to make explosives, not explosives. What materials? My car battery has sulfuric acid in it. This can be used "to make explosives" What was he going to do dangle from a rope and mix up a batch? I just can't get the with the attempt to link his suspenders, tools, and a propane torch to criminal activities. I'd be more suspicious if he had a can of spray paint. Frequently I have pockets full of tools and I even, horrors!, own an acetylene torch. I just can't figure out why the breathless tone of the article from what amounts to a load of nothing.
This is typical NY bedwetting media. The same liberal press that regurgitates upChuckie Schemer's every belch and f@rt over gun control in the same breathless crybaby mode. Trying to work up a panic over nothing. There are undoubtedly tools that can damage a bridge, but I rather doubt you could carry them in your pockets.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things .. that's what stopped this act of terrorism.
Gut instincts are a policeman's edge against the criminal.
Wonder if he's a friend of little George Steponallofus.
I get the impression that he's a headcase and probably should be put under observation before he starts running around with his underpants on his head.
I definitely get the message that you don't like New Yorkers.
Chuckie Schemer, Hitlary Clinton, Major Owens, Charles Rangel, Jerry Nadler, David Dinkins, Carolyn McCarthy, etc. And all of these Hitler/Stalin wannabes were elected by the majority of the voters. What's not to like?
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