Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian Man Arrested In New York's LaGuardia Airport Security Breach

IANS, 26 May, 2017 01:12 PM
    An Indian national has been arrested and charged in connection with a security breach at LaGuardia Airport in New York, that led to the evacuation of a busy terminal at the airport earlier this week.
     
    The man, identified as 41-year-old Phani Kumar Varanasi, had entered into a secure area of Terminal B at the airport through a guarded exit on May 23. He told police that he was confused about where to go and had wandered into the restricted area at the terminal.
     
    His trespassing had caused a security scare and led to evacuation of the busy terminal, a report in the New York Daily News said.
     
    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said Varanasi, who has no criminal record, spent five minutes in the "sterile area" before returning to the public space through the same exit.
     
    The report said Varanasi, a general manager at an India-based manufacturing firm, was flying into New York from Detroit when the incident occurred.
     
    He was identified by police through surveillance video and a list of passengers aboard the flight. A video obtained by the Daily News showed Varanasi walking directly past a TSA security employee at a desk.
     
     
    The federal agency said appropriate action will be taken against the employee who did not stop Varanasi from going into a restricted area at the terminal.
     
    Varanasi was due in Queens Criminal Court for a hearing on a criminal trespass charge, the report added.
     
    Republican lawmaker Peter King called for a full investigation and explanation of how Varanasi was able to walk unchecked through a security guard from the airport's baggage claim to the off-limits area.
     
    "We have to be constantly on our guard, and the breach at LaGuardia has to be explained and corrected," King tweeted.
     
    The report also said that police contacted Varanasi to come in for an interview at LaGuardia and arrested him after he voluntarily appeared.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Justin Trudeau Photobombs Students' Prom Photo Shoot In Vancouver

    Justin Trudeau Photobombs Students' Prom Photo Shoot In Vancouver
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's official photographer posted a photo to Twitter on Friday, depicting Canada's leader out for a jog along the city's seawall.

    Justin Trudeau Photobombs Students' Prom Photo Shoot In Vancouver

    Traps Set, Trails Closed After Bear Attacks Hiker Near Squamish, B.C.

    Traps Set, Trails Closed After Bear Attacks Hiker Near Squamish, B.C.
    Trails were closed in a mountain community north of Vancouver after a bear attacked a hiker.

    Traps Set, Trails Closed After Bear Attacks Hiker Near Squamish, B.C.

    Gay Indian-Origin Miniter Leo Varadkar Leads Race To Become New Irish Prime Minister

    Gay Indian-Origin Miniter Leo Varadkar Leads Race To Become New Irish Prime Minister
    The 38-year-old will face Housing Minister Simon Coveney after nominations closed for the leadership of the governing centre-right Fine Gael party, reported Sky News on Saturday.

    Gay Indian-Origin Miniter Leo Varadkar Leads Race To Become New Irish Prime Minister

    Indian Mission In UK Organises Anti-Terror Pledge For NRIs

    Indian Mission In UK Organises Anti-Terror Pledge For NRIs
    The Indian mission in the UK on Monday organised the first community-wide anti-terrorism pledge.

    Indian Mission In UK Organises Anti-Terror Pledge For NRIs

    Indo-Pak Tensions Surface In UK Election Campaign

    Indo-Pak Tensions Surface In UK Election Campaign
    Indian-origin MPs, Virendra Sharma, was caught on camera at a multi-faith meeting in London saying that "Pakistan is not harbouring terrorist groups or sponsoring terrorism".

    Indo-Pak Tensions Surface In UK Election Campaign

    Manchester Attack: Local Gurdwaras Offer Shelter To Blast Victims

    Manchester Attack: Local Gurdwaras Offer Shelter To Blast Victims
    Gurdwaras in Manchester offered shelter to those affected and stranded by Tuesday’s deadly Manchester Arena blast.

    Manchester Attack: Local Gurdwaras Offer Shelter To Blast Victims