Posted on 02/19/2002 8:00:34 PM PST by BigBlueJon
MIAMI (AP) - An Iranian national carrying a loaded gun was arrested at Miami International Airport as he tried to board a connecting flight to Washington, D.C., officials said Tuesday.
Iradj Eftekharipour, 37, told police the gun was plastic but it was a black metal revolver loaded with six bullets, said Miami-Dade police Detective Juan DelCastillo.
Eftekharipour later said he was carrying the gun for his own protection, DelCastillo said.
Eftekharipour had arrived on an American Airlines flight from the Caribbean nation of St. Maarten and was transferring to a flight to Washington when he was stopped by security, airline spokesman John Hotard said. A screener noticed the outline of a handgun in a fanny pack as it passed through an X-ray machine.
Eftekharipour was turned over to the FBI, which is investigating the incident, DelCastillo said. FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said she had no information on the arrest.
WSVN-TV reported that Eftekharipour operates a concrete company in St. Maarten.
Yeah, can't blame him, but doesn't this guy watch the news? Didn't he know that he would get busted for this?
Iradj Eftekharipour, 37, told police the gun was plastic
And one of the cops should have picked up the gun, pointed it at Iradj, cocked it and said, "Really? Plastic? Then you won't mind if I ... " Blam!
How is the screening at their airports?
I see that the gun laws are to my liking, you only get caught wth one here in the US.
"Well gee sir, I was a little concerned about the lead bullets, but since you've insured us that this metal revolver is plasitc and you seem like a nice Arab gentlemen, you better run along before you miss your flight to Washington."
Pardon me sir, is that a handgun in your fanny pack or are you just happy to see me?
"No sir, it's my 'plastic' revolver loaded with real bullets. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to miss my flight into an prominant landmark."
In other words a terrorist only needs to hop on a flight from the caribbean. Take over that flight with his gun and then crash into something here.
The name sounds Indian though, not Iranian.
Big Indian community in the West "Indies".
Doesn't that belong to the French? Isn't that island a frog caribean colony?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.