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Teen arrested at airport accused of having chemicals, bomb manual
WTNH-TV, New Haven ^ | May 27, 2003 | AP

Posted on 05/27/2003 7:47:53 AM PDT by LurkedLongEnough

Asheville, North Carolina-AP -- Airport police in North Carolina have arrested a juvenile on felony charges -- after the boy checked a suitcase allegedly containing chemicals that could be used to make a bomb.

Officials say baggage inspectors at Asheville Regional Airport discovered the chemicals, an instruction manual on bomb-making and information about bombs from the Internet in the suitcase.

Airport police say authorities removed the boy from his flight Sunday, then arrested him on charges of possessing components of mass destruction. An F-B-I agent says the boy may face additional federal charges.

Authorities won't release the boy's name because he is 14. They did not provide information on where the boy is from or whether anyone was traveling with him.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: asheville; bomb; explosives; felony; flightmanual; massdestruction; northcarolina; oldnorthstate; teenager

1 posted on 05/27/2003 7:47:54 AM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
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To: LurkedLongEnough
Authorities won't release the boy's name because he is 14. They did not provide information on where the boy is from or whether anyone was traveling with him.

Any guesses?

2 posted on 05/27/2003 7:50:13 AM PDT by js1138
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To: js1138
Arab Muslim
3 posted on 05/27/2003 7:57:20 AM PDT by Bikers4Bush
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To: Constitution Day
NC Ping!
4 posted on 05/27/2003 7:58:43 AM PDT by Carolina
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To: LurkedLongEnough; Carolina
I heard about this on the morning news (WRAL). I'll see if I can find other local news on it.
5 posted on 05/27/2003 8:00:18 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: LurkedLongEnough
possessing components of mass destruction

Never heard of this charge. So is it now illegal to be in the possession of a fuse, a book of matches or a stopwatch?

6 posted on 05/27/2003 8:09:46 AM PDT by Aloysius
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To: Aloysius
Never heard of this charge. So is it now illegal to be in the possession of a fuse, a book of matches or a stopwatch?

The charge probably also requires some sort of demonstrated intent to use unlawfully.

7 posted on 05/27/2003 8:14:45 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
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To: LurkedLongEnough; Carolina; Aloysius
WLOS.com has the following info:

Teen Arrested At Airport

A teenager will make his first court appearance Tuesday, after trying to board a plane at the Asheville Regional Airport with a chemistry set. The 14-year-old boy is in juvenile custody. He faces on felony charge of possessing components of mass destruction.
While police believe it may have been an innocent mistake, the F.B.I. is concerned about some of the items. Some of the materials had been purchased over the internet, and there were instructions on how to create an improvised explosive device.

8 posted on 05/27/2003 8:16:52 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: yall
Asheville, NC Citizen-Times:

Boy arrested at Asheville airport with bomb material

No new details there...

9 posted on 05/27/2003 8:18:29 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day
Where was he headed? And who was traveling with him?

Speaking of chemistry sets, I remember in high school science class when our teacher demonstrated the power of pure sodium dropped in water. BOOM!!!

10 posted on 05/27/2003 8:21:37 AM PDT by Carolina
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To: Constitution Day
A teenager will make his first court appearance Tuesday, after trying to board a plane at the Asheville Regional Airport with a chemistry set

A chemistry set?!?!?! Are they illegal now??

11 posted on 05/27/2003 8:22:43 AM PDT by alley cat
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To: *Old_North_State; **North_Carolina; mykdsmom; 100%FEDUP; 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; ~Vor~; ...
NC ping!
Please FRmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.
12 posted on 05/27/2003 8:25:37 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: alley cat
A chemistry set?!?!?! Are they illegal now??

I reckon so.
I do believe the bomb-making manual was what iced it though.

13 posted on 05/27/2003 8:27:37 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Carolina
Where was he headed? And who was traveling with him?

Don't know... I have not been able to find out any further details.
Maybe someone else knows some Asheville news sites.

LOL about the pure sodium. I recall just such a demonstration in our classroom!

14 posted on 05/27/2003 8:29:30 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Carolina
an instruction manual on bomb-making and information about bombs from the Internet

My chem sets never came with a bomb making guide.

15 posted on 05/27/2003 8:34:39 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: stainlessbanner
My folks gave me a chemistry set when I was about 12 years old. It contributed to a lifetime interest in the sciences. I still recall the square bottles of chemicals, and the fascinating smells that could be produced by burning them in a combustion spoon over the candle (both sulfer and a candle were provided).

I've seen such a chemistry set only once in the last 30 years, at a high-end children's toy store. I think it most likely that the liability lawyers and the related insurance companies have driven such products from the general market in order to avoid law suits from the dumb and aggressive. More's the pity.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, now up on UPI and FR (the title is not a misprint), "Memorial Day 2033."

16 posted on 05/27/2003 8:45:41 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob ("Saddam has left the building. Heck, the building has left the building.")
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To: Congressman Billybob
fascinating smells that could be produced by burning them in a combustion spoon over the candle (both sulfer and a candle were provided).

Hydrogen Sulfide, fascinating, I'll remember that description. The 'fragrance' reminds me of an egg salad sandwich, the next day.

I used to try to make gunpowder. I'd buy sodiun nitrate and sulfur at the drug store, crush charcoal and mix it .
It never really acted like the real thing but it would burn a hole through my mom's redwood picnic table.

17 posted on 05/27/2003 9:12:07 AM PDT by Vinnie
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