Bogusia blog

Suspect held over suspicious package, Miami airport reopens

MIAMI (AFP) – Police detained a passenger after screeners found suspicious luggage at Miami International Airport, prompting evacuations at four of six concourses and diverting flights, federal officials said Friday.

A bomb squad, federal officials and airport police were on the scene investigating a "suspicious item," the Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) said in a statement.

Four terminals were closed for several hours until the issue was resolved early Friday and the airport was declared safe, airport officials told AFP.

NBC television reported that the detainee was a 70-year-old scientist whose luggage contained a metal canister that resembled a pipe bomb.

No explosives were found, NBC reported.

Around 9:00 pm Thursday (0100 GMT Friday), a TSA officer "detected a suspicious item while screening a checked bag," it added.

"The passenger was located and is now in law enforcement custody."

Terminals E, F, G and H were initially evacuated, while passengers and employees were told to leave the affected area.

The Miami Herald said airport traffic slowed to a crawl. Travelers who could not be picked up by car at the airport instead left the property by foot.