Suspect Charged In Jacksonville Airport Bomb Scare
A suspect has been charged in the Jacksonville airport incident that took place on Tuesday.
Police say that the bomb scare that forced the shut down of the Jacksonville International Airport was a hoax.
Jacksonville Aviation Authority spokesman Michael Stewart says a suspect identified as Zeljko Causevic, 39 reportedly from Bosnia, has been charged with one count of making a false report about planting a bomb, and one count of manufacturing, possessing, selling or delivering a “hoax bomb.”
The suspect was arrested at the airport, according to reports from CNN.
The FBI is still investigating the incident that created chaos and left planes circling the airport for hours.
A federal law enforcement source told the network that a bag was searched and put through x-rays, but no bomb was found.
The closure of the airport was responsible for several flights being diverted to nearby airports and passengers who were already at the airport awaiting flights were put up in hotels.
There is no motive in the suspect charged in the Jacksonville airport bomb scare.
The airport, which was shut down for nearly five hours, has been reopened.
Even though the incident is being described as a hoax, some outlets such as CBS, are reporting that a “destructive device” had to be taken off site in order to be disarmed.
The decision to close the airport was made shortly after 6 pm on Tuesday after a suspicious package was found in the terminal and another one in a parking garage, according to statements by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office spokesman Shannon Hartley during a news conference after the airport reopened.
Airport spokesman Michael Stewart said Causevic was detained between 5:30 pm and 6 pm. He is being held without bond.
Witnesses say there was no panic as the closure was announced and everyone evacuated the terminal without incident.
There were reports of another suspect in the Jacksonville airport bomb scare, but it was determined the individual was not connected to Causevic, according to police.
