Hawaiian airport evacuated after two grenades found in luggage

HILO, Hawaii — Early Tuesday morning, Hilo International Airport was briefly evacuated after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff detected items resembling grenades in a carry-on bag during x-ray screening.

The incident involved a Japanese man -- a national -- preparing to leave the country.

At 5:44 a.m., the Hawai’i Police Department received a call from the TSA.

Officers secured and evacuated the terminal as a precaution while the bomb squad inspected the grenades.

The devices were later determined to be inert grenades.

By 6:45 a.m., police had arrested 41-year-old Akito Fukushima of Kanazawa, Japan, on charges of first-degree terroristic threatening and booked into the East Hawaii Detention Facility.

Airport operations resumed shortly after the all-clear was given at 6:50 a.m.

Authorities reminded travelers that replicas of explosives, including hand grenades, are prohibited in both checked and carry-on baggage.

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