Kansai airport officials stand by security measures

Un-be-liev-able !

"The man flew from China to Kansai. He stopped over at Incheon and then went to LA. I believe we did not detect any suspicious items" while he was at Kansai, the official said, without specifying where in China he boarded.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/news/yongda-huang-harris-held-after-weapons-arsenal-grenade-found-in-luggage/story-fn32891l-1226493229132

"There was nothing unusual about a man who boarded a flight in Osaka and was arrested after landing in Los Angeles wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying handcuffs, knives and a smoke grenade in his checked-in baggage..." ummm.... aside from the fact that he was wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying handcuffs, knives and a smoke grenade in his checked-in baggage. . . . . I am assuming his luggage wasn't checked prior to take off meaning, anyone could put anything in their suitcase, like a bomb with a timer, and board the plane... not acting jittery of course.

None of the items are all that extraordinary. The smoke grenade seems like the most "hazardous," although those don't blow up or hurt people, they just release a lot of smoke. A cigarette lighter would be more dangerous on a plane, I reckon.

And as they said, it's perfectly OK to carry the knives, bullet-proof vest, etc. The batons, in a checked suitcase, are no more dangerous than a baseball bat.

ummm.... aside from the fact that he was wearing a bullet-proof vest

It's legal to wear one.

and carrying handcuffs, knives and a smoke grenade in his checked-in baggage

Not sure about the smoke grenade, but again those other things aren't prohibited from hold luggage.

Just read the Herald Sun article. Thanks oldsanno. Ok, seems that the flight originated in China. I guess someone there didn't do their job very well. Still, if I am making sense of these articles, if his flight stopped in Korea and Japan but there was still no screening of his luggage, maybe that is a sign for airports to check, or check random transiting luggage too.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/10/09/feds-boston-man-transported-biohazard-suit-body-bags-and-weapons-in-luggage-on-flight-from-japan/

Harris was not cooperating with federal officials

has recently been working in Japan teaching English, officials said.

Harris’ flight stopped in Korea, where security must have only done a limited search on his bag or skipped it altogether.

Most items were in checked luggage. His luggage also cleared at LA. Stuff was found on second inspection. Watch the video at the link above.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/10/09/feds-boston-man-transported-biohazard-suit-body-bags-and-weapons-in-luggage-on-flight-from-japan/

The video mentions his laptop had a map of a school in Osaka with exits marked. And he said he was going to start a business in USA.

nothing extraordinary. If a man wants to wear bulletproof vest inside the plane for some reason, nobody can prevent him on boarding the plane except ejected by the captain or crew of the plane as these are not classified under prohibited materials. A man can carry 100 knives either as long as it is checked in luggage there is nothing to prevent him from boarding.

“We usually don’t stop someone unless they refuse to show their face, or is obviously violating Japanese law, like wielding a knife or something.”

translation: If they are leaving our precious country and island we could care less.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/10/10/boston-man-arrested-at-l-a-airport-with-bulletproof-vest-weapons-gas-mask-and-more/

Harris drew suspicion when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the airport noticed he was wearing the protective vest and pants under his trench coat, triggering a formal investigation by Homeland Security special agents.

under his trench coat

So it appears that his flight originated in China. Where he presumably initially checked in all these goodies. He transferrd at Kansai then Inchon to arrive at the destination LAX. Is that correct? JT's article ,makes it appear that his flight originated at Kansai.

"Nakamoto said arriving passengers are checked more closely than those leaving the country."

Translation: We don't care if they are complete fruitloops, as long as they are LEAVING our country.

"“We didn’t spot anyone who was jittery or sheepish during that time,”

That explains why the professional bad guys get away with stuff, while the first-time nervous Nellies end up getting strip searched and the luggage dumped out.

I feel so much safer now.

above... he was teaching in Japan and boarded at KIX (BU grad, 28 yrs). Naturalized Chinese with a family in Boston (suburb) and wuitw common since the 80s with Asians and Chinatown... Had exits marked at Osaka school on his laptop. My best guess it has something to do with a sociopathic fantasy of retaliation for the recent turmoil and island dispute with China/Japan. At least that is what the picture he painted for me. Perhaps he wanted to look like a warrior when he got home to Mom and Dad... Seems like a Chinese otaku to me and may have read a bit of manga on his train rides...

Maybe he's one of those freak wanna be cops? Or, copy cat Dexter.

We didn’t spot anyone who was jittery or sheepish during that time,

Oh dear. Yes, because terrorists don't know how to behave after training...

Millions of dollars spent on screening devices, anti-terror training etc., and when a huge red flag presents himself to Japanese authorities they let him board a flight because he "didn't look jittery". Yesterday we learn npp workers were waiting outside a Cainz Home to buy batteries during the nuclear crisis.

I have no idea how this country continues to exist on a day to day basis

This nutcase, just happens to have an American passport but deep down inside is a Chinese nutter! Crazy, crazy, crazy! And was working teaching...English?? I feel sorry for his students! Anyway, this guy will rot in jail I hope, keep his crazy ass away from anymore airplanes and I do hope they throw the book at him! Body bags??? What kind of teacher needs hand cuffs?? Body bags?? Batons?? Smoke grenades?? And the stupid idiots down in Kansai and before that over in Korea let him pass through security like this???

For all those obsessing over the admittedly odd vest and pants(odd, not illegal ), what do you suggest? Should all travellers be required to wear some sort of uniform? Should only certain articles of clothing be permitted?

Is he a nutter? Possibly. Other than the smoke device, none of the contents of his checked baggage were prohibited for transport. Possession at the destination is a separate matter. Searching the contents of his computer seems unreasonable.

They'll have to let him go.

Harris has not cooperated with authorities attempting to interview him, according to a U.S. official. "You have the right to remain silent." I learned that from Dragnet.

lead-filled, leather-coated billy clubs I think those were called "saps" or "black Bettys" in the old days. I also thought they were illegal for private citizens to have. I remember a police officer showed one to me back in the 80's.

This guy probably is loony.

"Nakamoto said arriving passengers are checked more closely than those leaving the country. He said he would stop an incoming passenger if he or she was acting or dressed strangely."

...but wouldnt stop an outgoing passenger.

Thanks Japan and the attitude of turning a blind eye to a potential problem.

For all those obsessing over the admittedly odd vest and pants(odd, not illegal ), what do you suggest? Should all travellers be required to wear some sort of uniform? Should only certain articles of clothing be permitted?

Is he a nutter? Possibly.

Herve - How about Probably. So you have no problem that he was all but ignored by security despite wearing body armour? You would have no problem sitting on the same 8 hour flight as this guy because he "didn't look jittery"? In this day and age, don't you think a little common sense would demand that he be taken in for questioning or an interview?

Incredible.

Whether or not the flight originated in Kansai is irrelevant. What's truly shocking is this lackadaisical approach to trying to prevent potential terrorists boarding planes, whilst scrutinising anyone hoping to enjoy their travels here.

"Nakamoto said arriving passengers are checked more closely than those leaving the country."

A slow hand clap for immigration...

Pure speculation, but could this guy be a member of the Roppongi hit crew?

kurumazaka - pure speculation here, too. But maybe, just maybe, he was also the guy who killed Jimmy Hoffa and scratched my car last Thursday.

Good work, Matlock.

"Allowed" or not, I would find it rather strange to see someone wearing a bulletproof vest and flame retardant trousers under a trench coat... in the HEAT we've been having until very recently... or was it "cooler" in the Kansai area ?

if he came from china the bags where checked there and kansai officials never got to check the bag (if it was not on him), so from the Japanese officials view, he just looked like a Metal Gear solid fan.

Folks, if this guy started his journey in China & only transited KIX he likely never even saw anyone from J-immigration or customs, he simply wud go to his connecting gate, his checked luggage may or may not be checked somehow while being transfered to another flight.

Where ever this guy started out with ALL THE CRAP in his checked in luggage he clearly shud have been flagged & either questioned at Immigration or if he already passed before his checked in was xrayed he shud have been made to indentify himself at the gate & pulled aside for futher questioning

Well I guess that this means that the screeners in Japan will be more obnoxious now since somehow Japan's name is in this story. Now all travelers will have to go through more intrusive probing.

Harris traveled from Kansai, in western Japan, to Incheon, South Korea, before landing in Los Angeles.

GW and Dennis Bauer - Its always good to read the story first.

smoke grenade, knives, a hatchet, a collapsible baton

Yes, these items should NOT have been allowed on the plane, PERIOD....

But come on now...? body bags, leg irons, gas mask, body armor...? Who cares...? What is he going to do, threaten someone with a gas mask..? Or attck the cockpit with a body bag...? This is definitely just more TSA chicken-shxt stuff. These TSA people are out of control.

hose,

there seems to be conflicting info on where he started, since neither you or I saw him, neither of us can say for sure!

The security in Kansai Airport surely so relax, according to Nakamoto. Unlike the one I've experience in Narita, few years back.

We nearly missed the flight because security was so tight, everybody were told to take out everything metallic that they are wearing and put it in a small basket.

Everybody were told to take off their shoes, and put it into the scanner. Heck, I was even asked to take off my belt on the spot when the metal detector went off.

Funny thing is, my male friend, who is an Indian origin, were not told to take off his belt.

In this case, surely they have some sort of guidelines for passengers like nothing flammable or sharp or corrosive on board. In airports, such as in my country or neighbouring countries has these reminders put up.

Even when I went to Cairo, I've seen such reminder. In some airport, they won't even let in the foldable umbrella.

he was preparing for halloween.

We usually don’t stop someone unless they refuse to show their face

Weak, you also just told everyone your stop and search policy.

GW, I thought if you are on transit, and you have to catch connecting flights, you still need to be checked?

Coz that was what I experienced enroute to Cairo via Changi airport. And the security even asked me to take out my laptop and put it on the tray to be scanned.

Unless one is on transit without having to disembark the original flight, he or she usually subjected to a check, somehow.

The checked luggage is transferred.

there seems to be conflicting info on where he started, since neither you or I saw him, neither of us can say for sure!

GW- there is zero conflict as to where he boarded his flight. He boarded at KIX (Osaka) and transferred in Seoul.

Oh, my bad. Why did I keep on thinking it was hand carry.

Airport security can be surprisingly disorganised anywhere in the world. Several years ago I got off a flight from Seoul to Frankfurt, got lost looking for my Manchester transfer flight, wandered down a couple of passages and found myself suddenly on the "wrong" side of immigration and customs in the airport shopping area. Couldn't possibly have done it deliberately and couldn't explain to the surprised (but friendly) security guy how it'd happened.

Translation: He's not our problem. Let the Americans sort him out.

Sounds like he went souvenir shopping in Kabuki-cho before leaving Japan. Smoke bomb was the only illegal thing. If he did not have that, no one would have held this guy.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/news/yongda-huang-harris-held-after-weapons-arsenal-grenade-found-in-luggage/story-fn32891l-1226493229132

Japanese aviation authorities had been contacted by their US counterparts about the man, but added that his flight had not originated in Japan. "The man flew from China to Kansai. He stopped over at Incheon and then went to LA. I believe we did not detect any suspicious items" while he was at Kansai, the official said, without specifying where in China he boarded.

can someone read this to hf and his ilk or ask them to take off their blinders.

Wake up call for Customs aroud the world!

OssanAmericaOct. 11, 2012 - 08:08AM JST

So it appears that his flight originated in China. Where he presumably initially checked in all these goodies. He transferrd at Kansai then Inchon to arrive at the destination LAX. Is that correct? JT's article ,makes it appear that his flight originated at Kansai.

Find the truth and all truth.....

Common sense indicates this man was up to something bad. Just because he got caught, it wont happen or may not happen as fast. It is clear something was planned and he made the mistake of taking all that stuff with him . what an idiot. and i am glad he was caught.

Stand by your actions all you like, KIX, doesn't mean they're any good.

Other than the collapseable billysticks which may or may not be illegal, what is the problem here? The hardous substance he his charged with is some ingredient in the dog repelling spray?

the [grenade] fell into a category that is prohibited on board passenger aircraft.

Many of the other items authorities say they found in Harris’ luggage - including the hatchet and knives - wouldn’t violate Transportation Security Administration guidelines for what is permissible in luggage that is checked. Also, bulletproof vests and flame-resistant pants are not listed among items prohibited aboard flights

I totally get it that this guy is a little out there, but if he is within his legal rights to do all of the things he has done (minus the alleged "hazardous substance"), shouldnt the focus of the argument be to change or not change the laws? rather than to condemn the guy and the security?

mikihouse!

A man can carry 100 knives either as long as it is checked in luggage there is nothing to prevent him from boarding.

Normally yes this is the case, however when flying from Tokyo to Sydney at Xmas l was astounded when a guy from my flight got pulled up at the transfers security screening carrying a fake katana in his carry on luggage. While these do not have a sharp blade as a stabbing weapon they are still dangerous and Tokyo airport security let him take this carry on. Unbelievable! Airport security is only as good as the low paid clown conducting it...

I think each thing by themselves is not a big deal (except of course the smoke grenade), but all together raise a huge red flag that something is going down! That is what law enforcement is trained to notice. Not being jittery seems to be normal for some of these people like the shooter in Aurora, calm as could be, taking his time in his massacre. I'm glad they stopped him and hopefully prevented something real bad from happening.

This is rather a pathetic story

Was there a threat to those aboard? No

Were weapons taken into the hold. No

Can any of these items be purchasedin the US ? Yes

In fact, there are millions of guns (and worse)in the US-legal and illegal

As previously stated, though the wearing of the vest and pants was odd(NOT ILLEGAL), and quite possibly this guy is a nutter, aside from the smoke device nothing in his checked bag was illegal. All the hype and hyperbole here is what is incredible. Paranoid much?

can someone read this to hf and his ilk or ask them to take off their blinders.

oldsanno - someone like HS and his ilk would realize that he would have to go through kix security no matter what. How long was his layover? Most likely he came home to Osaka and flew out again next day. Same result, kix security was a joke

Hosefella,

" In this day and age, don't you think a little common sense would demand that he be taken in for questioning or an interview?

Incredible."

By your way of thinking, what would define "suspicious"? Don't you see the slippery slope if that logic? What if a person wore a helmet onto a plane? Does that qualify as suspicious enough to have the person detained and all his belongings rifled through? I don't doubt that wearing a bulletresistant vest is rather unusual, but neither does it warrant all this hype.

Herve it's called being pro-active and having common sense. Your naïveté allowed nutjobs like the shoe bomber onto a plane with no checked luggage and bats*** crazy appearance because he wasn't carrying a gun.

Herve - are you seriously saying that someone getting onto a passenger aircraft wearing body armour ISN'T suspicious??oh dear...

Body armor and fireproof pants is not odd, its a warning sh@t is about to go down! There is no slippery slope here, its on flat ground in my opinion. Of course its appropriate to pull this guy out and figure out what is happening.

Here is the smoke grenade,

http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/Commando-smoke-grenade-p-16706.html

Looks like it's in a cardboard tube, it's not a metal grenade like that shown in the Herald Sun graphic .

Here's ABC News-

http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-faces-federal-carrying-smoke-grenade-luggage/story?id=17438557#.UHZNHxjWdDp

After newscaster comments like 'frightening', 'scary', 'lethal' weapons descriptions they then say that outside of the smoke grenade, it's not illegal to carry any of that in checked luggage.

I wonder was he on the way home to do away with the folks....cuffs, body bags, lots of scissors, a hatchet, duct tape....

Herve - this nutjob is reportably not cooperating with authorities in LA. Are we still overreacting?

While not threatening to the plane, he was apparently also in possession of anime pornography, which could land him in deeper trouble:

The FBI has notified its legal attaches in both China and Japan of the troubling materials they found with Harris, the pornographic pictures and writings on his computer and the concerns given his close proximity to children in his teaching role, according to ABC News.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-lax-body-armor-arrest,0,4079712.story

very intelligent because he was good at calculus . I'm i the only one who thinks the whole concept and idea of intelligence and testing it needs to be revised a little into 2012 so it's a little less narrow than what the 1960s psychology prescribes ?

Put up some actual facts and get down-voted...par for the course....

There is something the public is not being told.....

We live in a free world. I can dress in bullet proof vests if I want to, and it's not illegal to carry handcuffs (even inside a plane). The smoke grenade was probably the only illegal thing there, and that is difficult to spot (cardboard, looks like a toy tube). That grenade CAN'T bring down a passenger plane

The customs officials are right, no mistake on anyone's part.

Why are people arguing about the legality of bringing these things on board an aircraft?? It's COMMON SENSE to not do that, not a question of whether you can or not. But then again, common sense is becoming less common these days.

I'm sorry, but if I turned up with clubs, knives, a bullet-proof vest and body bags I think I would be locked up and questioned as a terrorist... quite rightly. What is he? An off-duty SWAT guy on a busman's holiday? A vigilante otaku? I think Kansai airport's head of security needs to have a lesson in what is deemed normal luggage.

Look maybe the guy and what he was carrying in his luggage don't appeal to folks because, even to me, it sounds a bit weird, but outside of the smoke grenade what he had with him in checked luggage was perfectly legal.

I'm sure that there are plenty of folks that wouldn't want their "dirty laundry" aired in public either and just because he didnt conform to what people would like doesnt make him a criminal.

Stupidity reigns at Kansai International Airport. I've seen it for years. Now it is out there.

This is choice:

There was nothing unusual about a man who boarded a flight in Osaka and was arrested after landing in Los Angeles wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying handcuffs, knives and a smoke grenade in his checked-in baggage, a Japanese official said Wednesday.

And this is also choice:

“We didn’t spot anyone who was jittery or sheepish during that time,” Nakamoto said. “We usually don’t stop someone unless they refuse to show their face, or is obviously violating Japanese law, like wielding a knife or something.”

Let's get this straight--LOL--a smoke grenade, prohibited under international law is not unusual and person wearing body armor and carrying a suitcase full of weapons (and a smoke grenade that could have brought the plane down) is above suspicion unless he is jittery and waving a big knife around.

Total morons!

I've been body searched at random and have had my Leica cameras and fountain pens closely examined by these clowns. Upon reentry I'm finger printed and photographed because I am, as a foreigner, a potential terrorist, though I am a permanent resident, as good as government inspected meat. I've never even been jittery.

Complete and utter brain donors!

They people ought to have known that some of the stuff this guy had on him was illegal in the US. And, of course, they should have detected the smoke grenade.

There is no shame or remorse in those stupid, stupid, utterly stupid Immigration officials.

I am sure they would be uttering the same mindless, complacent crap if the smoke grenade had gone off in mid-flight.

It's a big laundry list of otaku paraphenalia, but getting on the plane, all they would have seen is the bullet proof vest. Would they recognize it? If under a heavy overcoat, and also possibly the outer shell of the vest itself not recognizable. The other stuff goes w/everyone's suitcases underneath, and they just can't open everyone's check-in baggage. Even carry-on stuff, they only check some. Also, it is not illegal or banned from planes if in check-in luggage, except the smoke bomb.

So what are we left with? An otaku for weird stuff got caught in the act of being an otaku.

The map of the high school in Osaka changes everything, maybe. That could be like he got a map of a school he works at or applied to work at. And included in the map were exits, as they usually are. Or it could be we got lucky and nipped a bad incident in the bud. Hard to tell from this story.

Geezzzzz...what kind of reasoning and excuses this Kansai Security officials are telling us. It seemed that Kansai airport security care less if there are threats to the flight and passengers as long as they are leaving Japan.... Knock..knock..knock...

Hosefella,

Like I said, he may be a nutter, but no, not cause for such an overreaction. Was anything illegal other than the smoke device? No. Maybe his thing is S/M, we don't know. Wierd? Absolutely. Have a nice day.

How was he allowed through the metal detectors? That vest alone must have snaps that set the bells off? What did he do, put it in one of the little trays at the airport for it to go through the scanner? No-one batted an eye? No-one thought to ask why would anyone turn up for a flight wearing body armour? Telling you, if I knew he was on my flight I would be sh*t scared.

That vest alone must have snaps that set the bells off?

Actually depending upon the type of vest there is no metal at all, it's velcro strips that hold them in place, so a metal detector would not catch it.

"There was nothing unusual about a man who boarded a flight in Osaka and was arrested after landing in Los Angeles wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying handcuffs, knives and a smoke grenade in his checked-in baggage"

The most popular song at Kansai Airport must be Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual."

Hosefella, you noted that this guy was not cooperating. Why should he? Perhaps you may have heard of Miranda ?

FYI, " It is important to note that Miranda rights do not go into effect until after an arrest is made. The officer is free to ask questions before an arrest, but must inform the suspect that the questioning is voluntary and that he or she is free to leave at any time. The answers to these questions are admissible in court.

If the suspect is placed under arrest and not read Miranda rights, spontaneous or voluntary statements may be used in evidence in court. For example, if the suspect starts using excuses justifying why he or she committed a crime these statements can be used at trial.

Silence can be used against the suspect if it occurs before he or she is read the Miranda rights. For example, an innocent person would proclaim his or her evidence or try to give an alibi rather than staying quiet. The prosecution will try to use the suspect’s silence against him or her in court."

He may be guilty as sin, but that's not for us to decide.

As an aside, where was the smoke device purchased? If it was purchased in US, then was it also transported by him all along his trip? If so, then it was missed numerous times.

@hoserfellow

GW- there is zero conflict as to where he boarded his flight. He boarded at KIX (Osaka) and transferred in Seoul.

According to authorities, Harris began his latest trip in China, where he purchased a one-way ticket to Korea.In Korea, he purchased the ticket that took him through Japan to LAX. His final destination was to be Boston, authorities said.

It seems to me he and his luggage were checked in at Incheon and routed to LAX via Kansai without the passenger claiming his cases. There was no need to. Bashing the procedures at KIX is unwarranted.

Herve - are you seriously saying that someone getting onto a passenger aircraft wearing body armour ISN'T suspicious??oh dear...

He was not wearing body armor. The vest was a Chinese-made knock-off. Wouldn't have stopped any bullet.

Harris traveled from Kansai, in western Japan, to Incheon, South Korea, before landing in Los Angeles.

This appears to be incorrect.

Whatever the reasons for allowing him to board a flight... what would anyone need with all that crap anyway? Weird souvenirs.

What is Harris guilty of?

Being weird maybe but where is the crime?

Isn't the sexual molestation carried out by the TSA bigger than this?

How about the 'terrorists' that wired up WTC building no 7 ?

This story is for sheeple....

He may be guilty as sin, but that's not for us to decide.

Guilty of what?

Carrying a smoke grenade, or was it a smoke bomb, or maybe a firecracker that let off a tom of smoke? My point being that the lack of accurate information prevents anyone from doing anything other than speculating about what his motives are or were.

Presto - until JT admits they have the story ass-backwards, I cant cant change my opinion. In any case, KIX is just as guilty as chinese or korean authorities for letting this guy board a flight.

He was not wearing body armor. The vest was a Chinese-made knock-off. Wouldn't have stopped any bullet.

He was wearing body armour no matter the quality. Its still a red flag and he should not have been allowed on any flight

CNN still has him boarding the flight at KIX and transferring at Inchon

KIX failed to find the smoke grenade, as did everyone else. This is scary. The other contents of his suitcase, legal or not, deserved a hand check. If those morons at KIX can worry about my fountain pens, they ought to worry about a suitcase with a hatch, leg irons, knives, handcuffs, billy clubs and a grenade.

If the suspect is placed under arrest and not read Miranda rights, spontaneous or voluntary statements may be used in evidence in court. For example, if the suspect starts using excuses justifying why he or she committed a crime these statements can be used at trial.

Silence can be used against the suspect if it occurs before he or she is read the Miranda rights. For example, an innocent person would proclaim his or her evidence or try to give an alibi rather than staying quiet. The prosecution will try to use the suspect’s silence against him or her in court."

Herve - Thats all well and nice, Starsky, but I doubt very much the nutjob has Miranda rights in mind. I'm sure the loser is simply doing what he usually does - be a disgruntled and paranoid loner. Besides, if he had nothing to hide, why would he clam up? Ahhhhhhhh....

He was wearing body armour no matter the quality. Its still a red flag and he should not have been allowed on any flight

So take this one step further, if I don't like how you look or what you are wearing you are a "red-flag" and shouldn't be allowed on any flight either.

Besides, if he had nothing to hide, why would he clam up? Ahhhhhhhh....

So you don't believe in people having any rights huh? Tried and convicted just because he refuses to talk.

Yubaru - there's a bit if a difference between "not liking what someone looks like" and someone wearing body armour (not to mention smoke grenades etc) If you can't see this obvious difference, well ...

Yubaru,

" So you don't believe in people having any rights huh? Tried and convicted just because he refuses to talk."

That pretty much sums up Paranoid Pete's opinion. You and I are on the same page. He just doesn't get the part where " anything you(the accused) say, can and will be used against you. Some people can't comprehend the concept of the right to not self-incriminate. The fact is the guy did nothing to harm or endanger anyone. The question still remains where the smoke thing originated. Everything else is superfluous.

Herve - Look back my good man, and show me one example of where I asked for nutjob to be anything but taken off a flight and questioned. Whats that? You can't find where I asked for him to be thrown straight in jail?

Now, don't you think you owe Hoserfella an apology?

What exactly are "leg-irons" and would they not take you over the weight limit?

Yubaru - there's a bit if a difference between "not liking what someone looks like" and someone wearing body armour (not to mention smoke grenades etc) If you can't see this obvious difference, well ...

He wasnt carrying the smoke grenades on the plane, they were in checked luggage. That is a different problem with where it, the flight originated, and where he got on the plane.

No matter what he is wearing, or not, is not against the law. You know sometimes people have protective vests to literally protect themselves after injuring their ribs.

You don't deserve an apology for anything, you are calling the dude a nutjob which says explicitly how you feel about how a person looks or dresses. We also dont have enough information to know whether or not he was questioned prior to getting on the airplane. You assume much.

We also dont have enough information to know whether or not he was questioned prior to getting on the airplane. You assume much.

Yubaru - don't you think by now it would have come out that he was questioned before any of the flights? Good lord...

I don't know about you guys, but sitting with paranoid person on a plane is not soothing. And why on earth he put on the bullet proof vest, is beyond me. It's not that he's taking a plane to war stricken countries or something.

Hosefella, disparagingly referring to other posters as "Matlock" or "Starsky" will earn absolutely no apology.

You might note that the ONLY reason Harris was singled out at LAX was his apparantly faux-bulletproof vest.

" Harris, 28, was arrested in Los Angeles last week during a stopover on a trip from Japan after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers noticed the bulletproof vest."

The NYT article also indicates he boarded at Inchon after a stopover, and only passed through Kansai before continuing to LAX.

Only after US Customs and Border noticed the vest was he detained and subsequently arrested.

He is exercising his Constitutional right to not self-incriminate(as advised by counsel). The knee-jerk reaction by the subservient is to cry "Submit! Defer! Acquiesce!"

Good lord!

herve, yubaru - This is why there are red flags and why Harris should not have been allowed to fly

from Boston.com;

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A teacher arrested at Los Angeles International Airport wearing a bulletproof vest and with checked bags containing knives, body bags, a smoke grenade and other weapons also had files on his computer detailing how to kidnap and kill people, federal authorities disclosed Friday.

In addition, Yongda Huang Harris had items on his computer revealing he has a ‘‘strong interest’’ in sexual violence against girls, including a video titled ‘‘Schoolgirls in Cement,’’ Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Mills said.

One publication was entitled ‘‘Man Trapping’’ and showed how to hunt and trap humans, she said. He also had a document with schedules for schools in Japan showing when students arrived and left.

enough said.

and every website I've perused including the New York Times still has Harris flying from Japan to LA vis Inchon.

The very first sentence in this article implies that the man's flight originated in Kansai and he flew directly to LAX. It was not until the VERY LAST sentence that I realized he visited Korea and there was NO MENTION of China in the JT story. This was a little confusing since I haven't been able to fly nonstop from KIX to LAX for at least 6 years.

Earlier this year, I flew from Shanghai to LAX via Narita. During my Tokyo stopover I don't recall having access to my checked baggage, but I did have to go through security screening before entering the boarding area. (I could be wrong). I DO remember that security in Shanghai airport was pitifully incompetent and it does not surprise me that this guy was able to slip through the cracks.

This also reminds me of the time I was stopped at the immigration checkpoint leaving KIX a few years ago when the retard behind the counter insisted that the picture in my passport didn't look like me! The passport was 9 years old and I had a full beard in the pic, but it wasn't that dramatic of a difference. Luckily, the picture of me on the page with my (expired) work visa was accurate enough for her to let me pass.

I hope the cops here in LA have fun with this guy.

Please bring back the LAX to KIX route!

In addition, Yongda Huang Harris had items on his computer revealing he has a ‘‘strong interest’’ in sexual violence against girls, including a video titled ‘‘Schoolgirls in Cement,’’ Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Mills said.

Heard a radio report on this, and this does go into a "grey area." Do we want to start arresting people for thinking about a crime? I hope not, but then again, from what I heard, this guy was really a loon. Just the fact that he had a document made up that lists some of his schools that he taught at and the details he listed about good hiding places, and this "snuff film" that is even outlawed in Japan, about the brutal rape and killing of a school age girl, I think it is safe to say this guy was just a ticking time bomb. I am glad that he is off the streets, but still I worry about how this may lead to other issues about charging people with premeditated crimes.

It should be an interesting case, and if I were Japan, I would let the Americans take the lead on this case. And I am sure that they probably will since he has a fetish for young girls, and is a foreigner I am sure that they want nothing to do with him. If he were a Japanese citizen, I wonder what they would want done.

This guy is weird and an idiot in my mind, a very high profile guy to commit sex/death crimes. There is no need to carry such weapons and for him to risk putting through luggage on a plane is pure stupidity. And not to forget the fact that he was wearing all this military clothes. His silence and not willing to cooperate shows me he is guilty as a cat full of bird feathers in his mouth.