Federal Air Marshal guns down passenger claiming to have bomb
A passenger claiming to have a bomb in his backpack on at Miami International Airport was shot dead by a US Federal Air Marshal yesterday.
This incident, which involved an air marshal shooting at anyone, was first of its kind since 9/11, according to Brian Doyle, a spokesman of Homeland Security Department.
Jim Bauer, special agent at the federal air marshals' office in Miami, later said: “His actions caused (the air marshal) to fire shots and he is deceased.”
The passenger, Rigoberto Alpizar, reportedly made an attempt to flee the aircraft, which was heading to Orlando from Miami, just before it was ready to take-off which prompted this unfortunate incident.
Mr. Alpizar, who was a 44-year-old US citizen was running away from the Boeing 757 after being confronted by two air marshals. He refused to accede to their requests to get down on the ground, and was subsequently shot just as he was reaching for his bag.
His wife ran after him reportedly making a plea to the personnel saying that he was a manic-depressive and had not had his medication.
After the shooting, bomb squad members, who blew up at least two bags, found no bomb.
Bauer said: “There is no reason to believe right now that there is any nexus to terrorism." …or indeed that any other events are associated with this one.” He, however, defended the shooting incident saying that air marshals were trained to react when a serious threat is perceived.
Later, American Airlines issued a statement which read: “None of the other 113 passengers onboard were affected or were ever in any danger. This was an isolated incident.”
According to relatives of the deceased, Alpizar and his wife were returning from a working vacation in Peru.
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