[PLMerite]

"It should easily fit into a box the size of a deck of cards - not a SUITCASE."

It wasn't in a "suitcase." Look at this picture:

The prongs on the ac plug are 1/2 inch apart. That makes this case about 5x7 inches by 2 inches deep. If the empty space was filled with C4 it would still be deadly, or worse if it was just the timer component for something larger.

Or more likely a way to make someone hesitate to take action somewhere at some point in the future when it will be real.

[Liz]

[imardmd1]

It wasn't in a "suitcase." Look at this picture:

That was a count-down LCD display in the cover, right?

[Hodar]

Thanks for the picture.

Just 1 question:

How did a homemade alarm clock, go off in the middle of class, if it had to be plugged in?

The cord does not exit the box, unless the box is open. If the box is open - you see some pre-fabricated PCB (printed circuit boards). This looks like someone simply tore apart an alarm clock from a store - and transferred the pre-made components into a backgammon box.