A 49-year-old man was arrested at Sacramento International Airport on Saturday night after attempting to board a plane with a homemade explosive device and several other prohibited items.
According to the Department of Justice, the man, identified as Kimani Osayande Jones, was wearing a scarf over his face and latex gloves as he approached TSA agents.
Inside his carry-on bag, authorities found a knife, other bladed weapons, zip ties, a butane torch lighter, and five cellphones, each with painter’s tape over the front camera. One of the phones displayed an ominous message: “We will be awaiting your call,” while another had a 15-minute timer ready to start. The explosive device, described as a 2.5-inch-long brown cylinder with a 1-inch green fuse, was rendered safe by bomb technicians from the FBI and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged Jones with unlawfully possessing explosive material in an airport, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors stated that if the device had detonated on a plane flying above 10,000 feet, it could have damaged the aircraft’s window and caused a loss of cabin pressure.
Jones, who has a history of paranoia and has made multiple calls to the FBI this year reporting threats against him, invoked his Miranda rights and refused to be interviewed. He was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail and is facing state charges, including possession of a dangerous device. The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine his motive.
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