WASHINGTON — Despite security concerns, two men were allowed to board a Chicago-Amsterdam flight with “suspicious items” in their checked luggage; they were arrested Monday by Dutch authorities on terrorism-related charges.
Amy Kudar, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the “suspicious items” were discovered before the flight departed from O’Hare.
“Suspicious items were located in checked luggage associated with two passengers on United Flight 908 from Chicago O’Hare to Amsterdam last night. The items were not deemed to be dangerous in and of themselves, and as we share information with our international partners, Dutch authorities were notified of the suspicious items. This matter continues to be under investigation,” she said in a statement.
Dutch authorities charged the men with “preparation of a terrorist attack,” according to ABC News, which first reported the arrests. There were air marshals on the flight, according to a U.S. law enforcement agency official who did not want to be identified. “The individuals did not have prohibited items on their persons or their carry-on luggage,” the official said.
Full Story: O’Hare terror scare: ‘Almost certainly a dry run, a test’ :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State
Controversy heats up over Ground Zero mosque