A freelance television film crew was arrested in New Jersey on Thursday, January 18 after trying to allegedly sneak in a fake bomb past the security that morning.
ABC News reported that the crew had a carry-on bag containing "all of the makings of an improvised explosive device." The attempt was to pass it through security at Newark Liberty International Airport, but it was immediately detected, authorities said.
Seven people are now facing civil penalties and possible fines of $13,000 per security violation. Initially, it was not clear what television network the crew worked for, though one of the film crewmembers claimed to be working for the CNBC show "Staten Island Hustle."
"Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers sounded the alarm when the film crewmembers allegedly attempted to smuggle a roller bag containing wires, a motor and PVC pipe through a checkpoint," police sources told ABC News.
One crewmember was filming the encounter behind-the-scenes "to test whether TSA officers would detect the concealed device," the sources said. The story does not seem to add up as, allegedly, a third man involved in the film shoot told police they were testing a prototype of a vacuum bag suitcase.
According to ABC News, all the TV crewmembers were released, and their court date is pending, as the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said it is reviewing the case.
Source: abcnews.go.com
