TO CLOSE

Is Newark the busiest airport in the country? When did he become Newark Liberty? Discover all the things you did not know about this historic airport.
Michael W. Curley, Jr./NorthJersey.com

An Israeli man faces two charges after Agents of the Transportation Security Administration found a fake bomb in his luggage Tuesday at Newark Airport.

Alon Felman, 50, an Israeli resident, has been accused of causing a false public alert and interfering with transportation, said Lenis Rodrigues, spokesman for the port authority of New York and New Jersey.

"Security is not a joke," said Tom Carter, federal director of security at TSA, in a statement. "Our TSA officer who was in charge of the X-ray monitor identified what appeared to be a fully assembled explosive device and reported it to his supervisor."

On Tuesday, around 6:45 am, Felman caused an upheaval and several checkpoints were stopped when TSA officers discovered what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in his luggage.

Ironically, Felman traveled to Florida for training on X-ray detection of bombs and explosive devices. He carried the replica of an improvised explosive device as part of a demonstration.

JFK: Airplane placed in quarantine among reports of sick passengers

Fatality of the train: Mahwah man struck and killed by NJ Transit train in Ramsey identified

According to the TSA statement, six lines of control were closed, while the Port Authority police and the Essex County Bomb Squad investigated the device. At 0730, the device was considered "inert" and not a threat, while Port Authority police took Felman into custody.

Felman was in the custody of US Customs and Border Protection, said Cheryl Albiez, another spokeswoman for the Port Authority.

Email: [email protected]

Read or share this story: https://njersy.co/2NPKsg9