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Man with Quran arrested at Tampa International Airport with a boxcutter in a book

February 21, 2008

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Hmm…Another dry run by terrorists? Or, some dopey guy that just so happened to “forget” he had a box cutter in a carved out section of a book? I’ll let you decide.

A 21-year-old Clearwater man was arrested at Tampa International Airport this weekend after security personnel found a box cutter in a hollowed-out book, authorities said.

If convicted, Baines faces up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for a federal charge of attempting to board an airplane with a concealed dangerous weapon. He is currently serving a 30 day sentence after pleading guilty Monday to a state misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

About 7:30 a.m. Sunday, airport security ran Benjamin Baines Jr.’s backpack through an X-ray machine and saw the image of a box cutter, according to a report from the Transportation Security Administration.

When searching the backpack, a security officer found a book titled “Fear Itself.” The book was hollowed out, and the box cutter was inside.

After Baines was read his rights, he said his cousin had cut away the pages to make the hollow section in the book. Later, reports state, he said he had hollowed it out himself to hide money and marijuana from his roommates.

Baines told officers he was moving to Las Vegas and forgot the cutter was in the book.
Officers found books in the backpack titled “Muhammad in the Bible,” “The Prophet’s Prayer” and “The Noble Qur’an.” He also had a copy of the Quran and the Bible.

Sorry, but, it’s a little unsettling when someone tries to smuggle a box cutter onto an airplane with a Quran in his backpack. No mater what this guy’s excuse is, it’s not good enough. Sorry.

I do not believe in coincidences anymore. Something is going on. What? I don’t know. But, I hope our “leaders” know.

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Written by LibNOT_jr · Filed Under U.S News, War On Terror 

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