A man flying from Japan to Boston was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport when he was found wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a suitcase full of weapons.
The Associated Press reported that Yongda Huang Harris was arrested during a stopover in LA.
Suspicions were raised after Customs and Border Protection officers noticed his unorthodox attire. The AP reported that a search of his checked bags revealed "knives, body bags, a hatchet, a collapsible baton, a biohazard suit, a full-face respirator, billy clubs, handcuffs, leg irons and a device to repel dogs."
Harris' itinerary included traveling from Kansai, Japan to Incheon, Korea before he stopped over in Los Angeles, reported the AP.
The AP reported that he was "not cooperating with federal officials attempting to interview him, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an open investigation." They also noted that officials do not believe him to be a part of a terrorist organization.
His motives are still to be determined. The AP reported that he is a U.S. citizen that has permanent residency in Boston but was living and working in Japan during the time of his arrest.
"Harris has been charged with one count of transporting hazardous materials, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He made a brief court appearance Tuesday, but his arraignment was delayed until Friday and he was ordered held until then," reported the AP.
Chris Williams who is an attorney for Steven Seiden, Harris' attorney said to the AP, "It raises a lot of questions, and those questions will need to be answered. Right now, the case is very early."
Some of the items such as a hatchet and knives is not a violation of what is allowed to be in checked baggage by the TSA.
Yasunori Oshima who is an official at the Land and Transport Ministry aviation safety department in Japan said to the AP, "The case does not seem to pose any immediate concerns about aviation security measures Japan."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
