Home | News | U.S. Headlines | Geoffrey McGann: 'Artist' carrying homemade 'watch bomb' with fuses and circuit board arrested at California airport

Geoffrey McGann: 'Artist' carrying homemade 'watch bomb' with fuses and circuit board arrested at California airport

By Lena Sullivan / Dailymail.co.uk 11/17/2012 13:25:00

Read More: Geoffrey McGann , Strange watch arrest at airport

Font size:

Geoffrey McGann

Police claim to have foiled a terror threat after arresting a man as he attempted to board a plane with what they say were bomb-making materials hidden inside a homemade wristwatch.

But Geoffrey McGann claims he is an artist and insists the bizarre timepiece is nothing more sinister than an art project.

The 49-year-old from the Los Angeles suburbs was taken into custody at Oakland International Airport on Thursday night with what appeared to be a potential triggering device for a bomb.

'The watch had on it a toggle switch, a series of fuses, a series of wires protruding from it, a circuit board and the watch itself was on a direct timer,' Alameda County Sheriff's Sergeant J.D. Nelson said.

TSA agents said they became suspicious of McGann when he tried to get the object through airport security by putting it in a bin covered by his jacked.

Sgt Nelson said that was just one of many irregularities which led officers to be disturbed by his demeanour and attire.

'He was wearing a military style shirt that has a built-in tourniquet in the sleeves,' he said.

McGannwas also wearing shoes two sizes too big and packed with layers of insoles - an eery similarity to the explosive device worn by the 2001 shoe bomber, Richard Reid.

Suspicious: TSA agents reported McGann placing the wrist watch in a security bin before suspiciously covering it with a jacket that revealed his military-style shirt with a built-in tourniquet in the sleeves

Eerie similarities: In addition to his suspicious watch McGann was found wearing shoes two-sizes too big that were stuffed with shoe insoles, much like the 2001 shoe bomber Richard Reid

'They also had what appeared to be a homemade cavity in them and he was very evasive on everything that he was doing,' Nelson said.

The official said the bomb squad arrived within five minutes and determined there were no explosive materials in the watch.

'Obviously he was missing a couple of things along the way,' Nelson admitted, while insisting police regarded the watch as a possible 'triggering device.'

According to McGann's Facebook page he is managing creative director of a media, marketing and advertising group, having studied visual communication design in college. He is also a father to a little girl.

Asked if the sheriff's department had any idea of a possible motive for smuggling the device onboard, Nelson suggested it was possible McGann was testing out airport security systems in preparation for a full-blown attack at a later date.

'That's always a concern that someone is making a dry run,' he said.

McGann was taken to Santa Rita Jail where he was charged with possessing materials to make an explosive device.

Comments (3 posted)

Griffin Boyce 11/20/2012 11:21:09

This is absolute craziness. The guy has some steampunk clothes, and gets arrested for terrorism?!

As for "suspiciously" putting his coat in a bin with his watch, that's required. I've been directed to do that every time I've flown.

Lisa Simeone 11/17/2012 15:49:11

Who's the copy editor who approved this misleading, fear-mongering, craptastic headline?

The guy was wearing an artsy-fartsy watch. A watch. Get it??

I expect TSA agents to be morons, but it's depressing when a credulous media goes along with them. No wonder our civil liberties are in the toilet.

Debbie 11/17/2012 15:09:29

This is insanity. The man is an artist. Wake up folks our liberties as sinking faster than a wool sweater in the dryer.

total: 3 | displaying: 1 - 3

Post your comment

Most Popular Today
Most Commented

Charged: Attorney Reema Bajaj allegedly worked as a prostitute

Attorney Reema Bajaj, 25, charged with prostitution for 'performing $50 sex-act on man'

A high-flying attorney worked as a prostitute and offered to perform a sex act on a man for $50, officials say. Reema Bajaj, 25, was linked ... Full story