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| Man with smoke grenade arrested at Los Angeles airport | Man with smoke grenade arrested at Los Angeles airport |
| (6 months later) | |
| A man wearing a bulletproof vest and fire-resistant trousers was arrested at Los Angeles international airport after a smoke grenade, gas mask, leg irons and weapons were discovered in his luggage, US authorities have said. | A man wearing a bulletproof vest and fire-resistant trousers was arrested at Los Angeles international airport after a smoke grenade, gas mask, leg irons and weapons were discovered in his luggage, US authorities have said. |
| Boston-bound Yongda Huang Harris, 28, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of transporting hazardous materials on a flight from Japan, according to immigration and customs officials. | Boston-bound Yongda Huang Harris, 28, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of transporting hazardous materials on a flight from Japan, according to immigration and customs officials. |
| Harris was not co-operating with federal officials attempting to interview him, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Harris was not believed linked to a terrorist organisation but his motive had not been determined. | Harris was not co-operating with federal officials attempting to interview him, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Harris was not believed linked to a terrorist organisation but his motive had not been determined. |
| Harris was a US citizen whose permanent residence was in Boston and he recently started living and working in Japan, officials said. | Harris was a US citizen whose permanent residence was in Boston and he recently started living and working in Japan, officials said. |
| He has been charged with one count of transporting hazardous materials, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Harris made a brief court appearance on Tuesday and his detention hearing was postponed to Friday. | He has been charged with one count of transporting hazardous materials, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Harris made a brief court appearance on Tuesday and his detention hearing was postponed to Friday. |
| Harris aroused suspicion when customs officers at the airport noticed he was wearing the bulletproof vest and fire-resistant trousers under his trenchcoat. That triggered a formal investigation by homeland security agents. | Harris aroused suspicion when customs officers at the airport noticed he was wearing the bulletproof vest and fire-resistant trousers under his trenchcoat. That triggered a formal investigation by homeland security agents. |
| During a search of Harris's checked luggage, numerous suspicious items were uncovered, including knives, body bags, hatchet, collapsible baton, biohazard suit, full-face respirator, billy clubs, respirator, handcuffs, leg irons and a device to repel dogs, authorities said. | During a search of Harris's checked luggage, numerous suspicious items were uncovered, including knives, body bags, hatchet, collapsible baton, biohazard suit, full-face respirator, billy clubs, respirator, handcuffs, leg irons and a device to repel dogs, authorities said. |
| The smoke grenade was subsequently X-rayed by the Los Angeles police department's bomb squad. Officers said the device fell into a category prohibited on board passenger aircraft by the United Nations. | The smoke grenade was subsequently X-rayed by the Los Angeles police department's bomb squad. Officers said the device fell into a category prohibited on board passenger aircraft by the United Nations. |
| "Depending on the conditions when it is ignited, the smoke grenade … could potentially fill the cabin of a commercial airplane with smoke or cause a fire," federal officials said in a news release. | "Depending on the conditions when it is ignited, the smoke grenade … could potentially fill the cabin of a commercial airplane with smoke or cause a fire," federal officials said in a news release. |
| Many of the other items – including the hatchet and knives – would not violate guidelines for what is permissible in checked luggage but may be illegal under California law, according to an affidavit filed in the US district court. | Many of the other items – including the hatchet and knives – would not violate guidelines for what is permissible in checked luggage but may be illegal under California law, according to an affidavit filed in the US district court. |
| Harris travelled from Kansai, Japan, to Inchon, South Korea, before landing in Los Angeles. | Harris travelled from Kansai, Japan, to Inchon, South Korea, before landing in Los Angeles. |
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