TSA Finds Explosives in Soldier's Bag
MIDLAND, Texas - Authorities have charged a Special Forces Soldier assigned to Fort Bragg after he tried to go through a security checkpoint at a Texas airport with explosives in military-grade wrapping, the FBI said Sunday.
Sgt. 1st Class Trey Scott Atwater, 30, was stopped at security at the Midland International Airport about 9 a.m. Saturday. FBI spokesman Mike Martinez said Atwater is being held at the Midland County Jail and has been charged with trying to bring explosives onto an airplane.
He will remain in custody at least until his arraignment Tuesday, given that the courts are closed today for the holiday, Martinez said.
Atwater and his wife and family had been visiting relatives in the area and were on their way back to Fort Bragg, according to local media reports.
Lt. Col. Tom Bryant, a public affairs officer for the Army Special Operations Command, confirmed Sunday evening that Atwater is assigned to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. "The Army and federal and local authorities are jointly investigating, and at some point, I'm sure there will be some additional information available," Bryant said.
Public records searches indicate Atwater has relatives in Midland.
He had a reservation on Flight 3283 operated by American Eagle, which had a scheduled departure of 9:45 a.m. Saturday.
It's unclear whether Atwater was in military uniform at the time he was detained, or how many explosives were in the bag. City of Midland spokeswoman Tasa Watts said Saturday that she had no information on the suspect, but confirmed the explosives were in military-grade wrapping. She said the specific grade wouldn't be known until the explosives were tested.
The Transportation Security Administration issued a statement saying one of its officers spotted a suspicious item in a carry-on bag during X-ray screening. The agency said the checkpoint was closed for about an hour while officers investigated and removed the item.
Watts said Atwater was entering a terminal when he was stopped, and a sweep was done to clear that terminal before normal operations resumed.
Sgt. 1st Class Trey Scott Atwater, 30, was stopped at security at the Midland International Airport about 9 a.m. Saturday. FBI spokesman Mike Martinez said Atwater is being held at the Midland County Jail and has been charged with trying to bring explosives onto an airplane.
He will remain in custody at least until his arraignment Tuesday, given that the courts are closed today for the holiday, Martinez said.
Atwater and his wife and family had been visiting relatives in the area and were on their way back to Fort Bragg, according to local media reports.
Public records searches indicate Atwater has relatives in Midland.
He had a reservation on Flight 3283 operated by American Eagle, which had a scheduled departure of 9:45 a.m. Saturday.
It's unclear whether Atwater was in military uniform at the time he was detained, or how many explosives were in the bag. City of Midland spokeswoman Tasa Watts said Saturday that she had no information on the suspect, but confirmed the explosives were in military-grade wrapping. She said the specific grade wouldn't be known until the explosives were tested.
The Transportation Security Administration issued a statement saying one of its officers spotted a suspicious item in a carry-on bag during X-ray screening. The agency said the checkpoint was closed for about an hour while officers investigated and removed the item.
Watts said Atwater was entering a terminal when he was stopped, and a sweep was done to clear that terminal before normal operations resumed.
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This man is one of America's best. What h--- was he thinking of? To have Items such as C-4 in plan sight in the easily identifiable packaging. Well it or he wasn't wrapped to tight.
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