Posted on 09/21/2007 11:03:43 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
(WBZ) BOSTON An MIT student with a fake bomb strapped to her chest was arrested at gunpoint Friday at Logan International Airport and later claimed it was artwork, officials said.
Star Simpson, 19, had a computer circuit board and wiring in plain view over a black hooded sweat shirt she was wearing, said State Police Maj. Scott Pare, the commanding officer at the airport.
"She said that it was a piece of art and she wanted to stand out on career day," Pare said at a news conference. "She claims that it was just art, and that she was proud of the art and she wanted to display it."
The battery-powered rectangular device had nine flashing lights, he said. Simpson also had Play-Doh in her hands, he said.
The phrases "Socket to me" and "Course VI" were written on the back of sweat shirt, which authorities displayed to the media. Course VI appears to be a reference to MIT's major of electrical engineering and computer science.
Simpson was charged with disturbing the peace and possessing a hoax device.
She pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing a hoax device at her arraignment in East Boston District Court Friday afternoon. She was released on $750 bail and ordered to stay away from Logan Airport.
Simpson could face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
"I'm shocked and appalled that somebody would wear this type of device to an airport," Pare said.
Simpson was "extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," Pare said. "She's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."
Simpson is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology sophomore from Hawaii, officials said.
Simpson was a member of MIT's swimming and diving team in 2006, according to the team's Web site, which lists her hometown as Kihei, Hawaii, and her high school as Hawaii Preparatory. MIT spokeswoman Patti Richards confirmed that Simpson is an MIT student, but said the school could not immediately confirm any other details and did not have further comment.
She was arrested about 8 a.m. outside Terminal C, home to United Airlines, Jet Blue and other carriers.
A Massachusetts Port Authority staffer manning an information booth in the terminal became suspicious when Simpson -- wearing the device -- approached to ask about an incoming flight, Pare said. Simpson then walked outside, and the information booth attendant notified a nearby trooper.
The trooper, joined by others with submachine guns, confronted her at a traffic island in front of the terminal.
"She was immediately told to stop, to raise her hands and not to make any movement, so we could observe all her movements to see if she was trying to trip any type of device," Pare said. "Had she not followed the protocol, we might have used deadly force."
Pare said Simpson took a subway to the airport, but he was not sure if she had the device on at that time.
She told authorities she was at the airport to greet someone arriving on a flight from Oakland. Authorities verified information as to the name of the passenger she was greeting, and said he had already left the airport.
"She did seem a bit upset that she was in custody. However, she was rational, and she did answer all questions as required," Pare said.
The major praised the booth attendant but said the incident is a reminder of the terrorism threat confronting the civil aviation system. Two of the four passenger jets hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, took off from Logan.
"In this day and age, the threat continues to be there," said Pare. "She certainly jeopardized her own safety by bringing this to the airport, as well as the safety of everybody around her."
The city was the focus of a major security scare Jan. 31 when dozens of battery-powered devices were discovered in various locations. Bomb squads were deployed, and highways, bridges and some transit stations were temporarily closed. They turned out to be a promotion for cable TV's Cartoon Network.
Stay with wbztv.com and WBZ-TV for the latest on this developing story.
So it was career day at the airport?
“I think they should have shot her in the leg.”
No, they should have put her down immediately. You don’t shoot terrorists in the legs. A real terrorist would have had enough time to set off the explosives. Don’t forget, they are willing to die during the act - oblige them.
“I think they should have shot her in the leg.”
No, they should have put her down immediately. You don’t shoot terrorists in the legs. A real terrorist would have had enough time to set off the explosives. Don’t forget, they are willing to die during the act - oblige them.
I’m and engineer
No grammer needed tho! LOL
What a surprise!
Weird. I was actually at MIT this week for a course.... Didn’t see a normal looking woman student all week. :)
I think there is a four character minimum on search word length. A list of "stop words", such as "the" "and", etc., would probably serve the purpose better.
Did you spell it right? 8^)
Female, nineteen, not fat, at MIT == hot.
Affirmative action run amuck?
HA! I got a “C” in typing. :-)
Actually, I agree with you.
The first thing I thought of is that she made it inside the airport with this fake device on. If it had been real, she could have killed thousands of people before anyone even realized she was in there.
Not just there. It does seem that some people are gifted with brains and no sense. But isn't the Darwinian idea that these folks won't be able to survive? She doesn't even have the sense to know how close she came to not being here anymore.
For sure. It's the Hollywood effect. Real bommbs don't tick or have flashing lights. They just blow you to bits before you know what hit you.
See if you can spot the bomb in this video.
I could almost give this one a pass except for the Play Doh on the hands.
Funny you should mention that. Check out my “home page” for a little insight into survival of the fittest.
Have a great weekend.
A deputy sheriff in Southern California made the funniest (obvious) comment a few years ago, when several carsful of Cal-Tech students were stranded after going up a mountain road that was closed due to excess snow. They were on a mission of a halloween prank:
"Being labeled 'genius' is no assurance of common sense!"
MIT needs to boot this girl and send her to Art school. She Makes MIT look stupid for enrolling her.
Lucky shewasn’t shot.
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