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Man To Appear In Court After Arrest At Orlando International

POSTED: 2:04 pm EDT April 1, 2008
UPDATED: 10:27 am EDT April 2, 2008

A Jamaican man arrested for trying to bring explosive materials on an airplane at OIA will have his first appearance in federal court Wednesday. TSA workers found bomb-making materials in 32-year-old Kevin Brown's checked luggage, Tuesday.


TEAM COVERAGE: Bomb Making Materials, Books Found Inside Man's Bag
SUSPICIOUS: Behavior Detection Officer Helps In Arrest Of Man At OIA

After being questioned late into the night by the FBI, Kevin Brown was brought to the Seminole County jail where they house federal prisoners. Wednesday morning he'll be taken to the federal courthouse to face a judge.

TSA officers spotted Brown acting strange as he was checking his bag on Air Jamaica flight 80 to Montego Bay. Passengers noticed his unusual behavior, too.

"He was acting all weird, shaking left to right, up and down. He looked like a crazy man, basically," said Jason Doyle, a passenger.

When officers x-rayed Brown's luggage they found pipes, ball bearings, an unknown liquid and books on bomb making. Experts said he had packed all the materials needed to make a pipe bomb.

"TSA workers told us to move away from the windows, that the man over there was a very bad man," said Yvonne Turner, another Air Jamaica passenger.

Brown was kept on a curb outside terminal A and away from passengers while the bomb squad searched his carry-on backpack. Inside the airport the security scare delayed flights and caused long lines.

But passengers said they were just happy Brown was spotted and stopped before he got on a plane.

"I'd rather be late and be safe," added Noel Bridgett, a passenger headed to Jamaica.

Kevin Brown is a citizen of Jamaica and was headed home. TSA officials said it was not clear why he had the bomb making materials in his bag.

Parts Of Airport Closed

Parts of terminal A were closed while the bomb squad responded to the scene and established a 300 foot perimeter around the area. Video showed a bomb squad technician going through the contents of a backpack that officials say also belonged to Brown. He apparently planned to carry it on the plane. Officials did not say what they found in the backpack other than a laptop computer. It appeared to also have athletic tape inside.

The FBI has been called in to handle the investigation. Agents are being tight-lipped but did say they plan to go through the laptop.

Flights Delayed, Traffic Snarled

Eleven afternoon flights were delayed at OIA but otherwise, planes continued to arrive and depart as normal and both security checkpoints inside the airport remained open. Frontier, Air Canada, West Jet and Air Jamaica airlines all had delayed flights.

Passengers arriving at terminal A had to enter the airport through the pick-up area as opposed to the departure area. Most seemed understanding.

"This is my first experience like this," said one. "It went very smoothly, though."

"What can you do?" asked another. "We want to be safe, so you just go with the flow."

All car traffic ramps opened by about 4:00pm but back-ups still stretched around the airport.


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