Posted on 11/04/2001 7:00:19 PM PST by Enlightiator
The Associated Press
CHICAGO (November 4, 2001 06:48 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - A 27-year-old man possessing seven knives and a stun gun was arrested trying to board a flight at O'Hare International Airport, police said Sunday.
Subash Gurung, a Nepal native, was arrested Saturday night prior to boarding a United Airlines flight to Omaha, Neb., said police spokesman Thomas Donegan.
He was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and attempting to board an aircraft with weapons, both misdemeanor charges.
Gurung, questioned by police and the FBI, was released from custody at 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
Donegan was unsure what authorities learned while questioning Gurung, saying they apparently "didn't have reason to keep him." He has no previous arrests in Chicago.
Gurung had made it past the security checkpoint at O'Hare but airline employees in the gate area searched his bag in a routine check and found the lock-blade knives and the Taser gun, Donegan said.
Gurung told police he's unemployed. Donegan was unsure why Gurung was headed to Omaha.
The FBI declined to comment Sunday.
United spokesman Joe Hopkins wouldn't say why Gurung was searched, but said it was part of the airline's regular security procedures.
"The United employees did a great job of intercepting this guy with the weapons and preventing him from boarding the flight," Hopkins said.
So how the hell did he make it past the security checkpoint?
No kidding! The people they hire to run these checkpoints probably aren't qualified to flip burgers at McDonalds.
They didn't find 7 knives? How did they miss that? Sheesh!
CNN has learned that Gurung listed the same West Hollywood Avenue apartment address in Chicago as Ayub Ali Khan, a material witness in the September 11 attacks.
Khan and Mohamed Jaweed Azmath were arrested September 12 in Fort Worth, Texas, on an Amtrak train heading to San Antonio, Texas. Found in their possession were $5,500 cash, two flat box-cutter type knives and hair dye. Azmath also had copies of numerous passport photos.
I've heard our Wild West is popular with folks from other parts of the world.
Gurung musta thought he could rustle hisself one of them cattle from them stockyards in Chicawgo and was planning on sharing an Omaha Steak with members of his family once he arrived in Nebrasky.
Mebbe he had one of them critters in his extra-large carry-on-carpetbag. The stun gun woulda come in handy for controlling that ornery varmit. Betchur britches he had 7 knives with him so each family member could use his own.
Boy this sure is a SMALL world after all.
Must be one mighty coincidence that the roomate of the two guys in Texas arrested with boxcutters happened to be flying with 7 knives, a stun gun and mace.
He was just on a pleasure cruise, through eel infested waters. Yeah. That's the ticket.
Sometimes stupidity is absolutely stupefying, isn't it?
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