A man from Israel is facing charges after he allegedly tried to bring a suspicious package into Newark Liberty International Airport Tuesday morning.
Authorities say that Alon Felman told police that he was heading to a police training seminar in Florida and that the device in his possession was to be used as part of that training.
The third level of Terminal C was temporarily closed for a time while authorities checked out the item.
A spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration says that Felman was to participate in an event that was focused on X-ray detection of explosive devices.
“[Felman] was carrying a test item that was built and designed to mimic a fully-assembled bomb when viewed on an X-ray monitor. Indeed, the item was a realistic replica explosive device,” TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said in a statement.
Felman was charged with creating a false public alarm and interference with transportation.
The incident happened just one week prior to the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.