Marine Corps Reserve Corporal Arrested in Pentagon Bomb Scare

Marine Corps Reserve Corporal Arrested in Pentagon Bomb Scare

By RICHARD ESPOSITO, PIERRE THOMAS (@PierreTABC) , SUNLEN MILLER (@sunlenmiller) and HUMA KHAN
June 17, 2011
A Marine Corps Reserve lance corporal who was carrying suspected bomb making materials and pro-al Qaeda literature was arrested in Arlington National Cemetery early this morning, triggering a bomb scare that snarled Washington's morning rush hour. The FBI, however, determined that the material in the man's backpack was harmless.

"There was not a device and the products found are determined right now to be inert," said Brenda Heck, special agent in charge of counterterrorism for the FBI.

The material in the suspect's backpack tested negative as a potential explosive, sources said.

Sources told ABC News earlier that the backpack contained what was believed to be ammonium nitrate and spent ammunition for an automatic weapon. The material was reportedly contained in four large ziplock type bags.

Sources also said there were pro-al Qaeda statements found in a notebook that contained mostly notes for a financial class. There was also was a page containing words "al qaeda," "Taliban rules," "mujahidin" and "defeated coalition forces."
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Marine Corps Reserve Corporal Arrested in Pentagon Bomb Scare

also

Pentagon on alert after Marine arrested at Arlington National Cemetery
By Justin Jouvenal and Dan Morse, Published: June 17
A Marine reservist taken into custody under suspicious circumstances at Arlington National Cemetery early Friday sparked an aggressive police response that led to road closures near the Pentagon and massive traffic tie-ups throughout morning rush hour.

Although authorities eventually determined there was no immediate threat to the public, they said they could not afford to take any chances. They noted that the suspect, Yonathan Melaku, 22, initially fled from police, had suspicious items in his backpack and even told officers that the bag contained bombmaking materials.
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Marine arrested at Arlington National Cemetery