"Passenger with knives in briefcase raises security questions at New Orleans airport"

Tuesday, April 2, 2002

Passenger with knives in briefcase raises security questions at New
Orleans airport 
By ALAN SAYRE
The Associated Press


NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A man carried eight knives and two pairs of scissors
past a security checkpoint at the New Orleans airport, then boarded a
plane before he was taken into custody, officials said Monday. 

The discovery of the weapons prompted the evacuation of a concourse and
about 1,000 passengers on Sunday at Louis Armstrong International
Airport. 

"There is no way I can whitewash this. I and other law enforcement
officials are profoundly disturbed about this," acting U.S. Attorney Jim
Letten said. 

Albert Silvarian, 42, was charged with attempting to board an aircraft
with dangerous weapons, which carries up to 10 years in prison and a
$250,000 fine. Silvarian did not enter a plea during an initial court
appearance Monday before a federal magistrate. He remains jailed. 

Silvarian allegedly passed through the checkpoint as screeners failed to
find the knives in his briefcase. At the gate, he was picked for a
random search, when five knives and two sets of scissors were found. 

After those weapons were confiscated, Silvarian was allowed to board his
scheduled flight, but was taken into custody before the plane took off.
Another search of the briefcase by sheriff's deputies and National
Guardsmen turned up three more knives, Letten said. 

Letten would not say if the security breach was the responsibility of
private security, the National Guard or law enforcement. 

All but one pair of scissors were in sealed packages, and the knives
were still in Wal-Mart packages, officials said. 

"This is clearly not an act of terrorism," said defense lawyer Ralph
Capitelli. "This is an act of stupidity and negligence." 

He said Silvarian is a seaman who was trying to fly home to India.


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