"No bomb in scare near Pentagon; Man is detained over bag contents" by Eileen Sullivan and Eric Tucker, Associated Press / June 18, 2011
ARLINGTON, Va. — A Marine Corps reservist carrying a backpack containing what initially appeared to be bomb-making material was detained near the Pentagon early yesterday, but authorities later said the suspicious items were not explosive.
Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Va., 22, was discovered after 1 a.m. yesterday inside Arlington National Cemetery. Melaku, a naturalized citizen originally from Ethiopia, was detained for trespassing after becoming uncooperative, authorities said. He had not been charged with anything as of last night.
Melaku had a bag with a substance that initially appeared to be ammonium nitrate, which can be used in explosives with the correct concentration, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to talk about the investigation. The chemical compound is also widely used in fertilizers.
But the official said there was nothing in the bag that could have detonated or resulted in an explosion.
The FBI declined to specify what was in the backpack, but said the items were undergoing further testing at the laboratory in Quantico....
This is STINKING of a SCRIPTED and STAGED EVENT just to KEEP the whole "terror" ball and "threat" rolling!
Melaku was not believed to have ties to any terrorist organization, according to another official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Meaning he is working for U.S. intelligence, right?
Melaku joined the Marine Corps Reserves in September 2007 and is listed as a lance corporal and motor vehicle operator with a combat engineer battalion headquartered in Baltimore, according to the FBI. He has received the National Defense Service Medal and the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal. He has not been deployed overseas.
Melaku remained in the custody of the US Park Police as investigators in protective white suits and bomb-sniffing dogs went through his home in suburban Washington and removed evidence.
This is STINKING of a SCRIPTED and STAGED EVENT just to KEEP the whole "terror" ball and "threat" rolling!
Melaku was not believed to have ties to any terrorist organization, according to another official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Meaning he is working for U.S. intelligence, right?
Melaku joined the Marine Corps Reserves in September 2007 and is listed as a lance corporal and motor vehicle operator with a combat engineer battalion headquartered in Baltimore, according to the FBI. He has received the National Defense Service Medal and the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal. He has not been deployed overseas.
Melaku remained in the custody of the US Park Police as investigators in protective white suits and bomb-sniffing dogs went through his home in suburban Washington and removed evidence.
See: Sunday Globe Special: Jobs Going to the Dogs
So is the Glob.
Nothing suspicious was found in Melaku’s car, parked in bushes near a Pentagon parking lot, authorities said.
]Melaku was arrested last month in Leesburg, Va., on grand larceny charges, accused of damaging cars and stealing items from them. His lawyer in that case did not return a call seeking comment yesterday.
The investigation snarled morning rush hour traffic yesterday as police closed off roads around the Pentagon.
I'll bet that DEFINITELY BROUGHT 9/11 TO MIND!
In another event earlier this week that officials treated as suspicious, a vehicle was pulled over near the Pentagon after the driver appeared to be backing up against traffic. Authorities determined that people inside the vehicle were taking pictures of the Pentagon, and an occupant admitted carrying a gun, said Pentagon police spokesman Chris Layman. The events appeared unrelated, he said.
And yet here the AmeriKa media are relating them.
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