MIT Student With Fake Bomb Nabbed At Logan

(CBS/AP)  An MIT student with what police feared was a fake bomb attached to her chest was arrested at gunpoint Friday at Logan International Airport and later claimed it was artwork, officials said.

Star Simpson, 19, had a computer circuit board and wiring in plain view over a black hooded sweat shirt she was wearing, said State Police Maj. Scott Pare, the commanding officer at the airport.

"She said that it was a piece of art and she wanted to stand out on Career Day," Pare said at a news conference. "She claims that it was just art, and that she was proud of the art and she wanted to display it." (There was a career fair at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Thursday, according to the university's Web site.)

CBS News correspondent Bob Orr (audio) reports officials say they had to take the incident seriously. All of U.S. aviation remains under Code Orange, the second highest terror threat level.

Simpson was charged with disturbing the peace and possessing a hoax device, and was to be arraigned in East Boston District Court later Friday.

"I'm shocked and appalled that somebody would wear this type of device to an airport," Pare said.

Simpson showed "a total disregard to understand the context of the situation she is in, which is an airport of post-9/11," prosecutor Wayne Margolis said at a hearing where a not guilty plea was entered for Simpson and she was released on $750 bail. Margolis had asked for $5,000 bail.

Simpson, of Lahaina, Hawaii, was arrested Friday morning outside Terminal C, home to United Airlines, Jet Blue and other carriers.

She wore the white circuit board on her chest over a black hooded sweat shirt, Pare said at a news conference. The battery-powered rectangular device had nine flashing lights, and Simpson had Play-Doh in her hands, he said.

Two phrases that looked hand-drawn — "Socket to me" and "Course VI" — were written on the back of Simpson's sweat shirt, which authorities displayed to the media. Course VI appears to refer to MIT's major of electrical engineering and computer science.

Simpson is the secretary of MIT's Electrical Research Society, according to her lawyer. She is a graduate of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy, a private boarding school, has won school prizes for chemistry and leadership, and had received a Congressional citation for her work in robotics, said Ross Schreiber, who was appointed to represent Simpson.

He said she was not a risk to flee, cooperated with authorities and was a good student with no prior convictions. He said they would fight the charges.

"I would characterize it as almost being paranoid at this point," Schreiber said of authorities' response.

He said Simpson had gone to the airport to meet her boyfriend. "She was there for legitimate purposes," Schreiber said.

A Massachusetts Port Authority staffer manning an information booth in the terminal became suspicious when Simpson — wearing the device — approached to ask about an incoming flight, Pare said. Simpson then walked outside, and the staffer notified a nearby trooper.

The trooper, joined by others with submachine guns, confronted her in front of the terminal.

"She was immediately told to stop, to raise her hands and not to make any movement, so we could observe all her movements to see if she was trying to trip any type of device," Pare said. "Had she not followed the protocol, we might have used deadly force."

He added, "She's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."

The terminal was not evacuated and flights were not affected, airport officials said.

Boston was the focus of a security scare Jan. 31 when dozens of battery-powered devices that featured a character making an obscene gesture with a finger were discovered in various locations. Bomb squads were deployed and some transportation links were closed temporarily. They turned out to be a promotion for the Cartoon Network. Two men were charged in that incident, but prosecutors dropped the charges after they apologized and performed community service.

[michellem99-2009]

Portland Jetport ME,Logan MA then NY played a part in 9/11.. She was in school and surely her school adm broatcasted it so that teen knew. That girl was not raised in a barn. She saw it on tv ,papers, and her comouter. I have the flag in a vase that I put up that day and still displayed. Our kin over there.
I had tears down my face when I woke my room mate told him we were attacked. It was on the TV. She threw her education down the loo. Real dumb girl. She be pondering her actions in a cell and the only good is they could have killed her but did not. She learnt nothing. It is a different America.

[michellem99-2009]

crzmeat.Dear at her age I was a high gradate at the blind center in Portland Maine, my first paycheck was $22. Our day things were different. Still we did not do stuff that girl did. She knew better. It is people like her that hurt it for us all. If it isn''t bad now. She knew better.. An awful way of drawing attn to herself. As legally blind white cane user and older person her behaviour is uncalled for and could have done damage. It is not a joke young lady. They would have killed out here and askes ?s later.

[Krazcarl]

Misschanny....I owe an apoligy I rereade your post and I''m the village idiot SORRY in my opinion you are correct.

[Krazcarl]

MSSCHANNEY would you ware what would be a explosive device on you to the airport or strap one on your child. That''s why 18 year olds are fighting an dieing.

[michellem99-2009]

9/11 started in Portland Maine as the asres bought their tickets at the Portland Jetport MAINE then changed planes at Logan. Those asres was not Mainers. And yet they used Maine to fly out that awful day. I am a Mainer. Us Mainers didn''t know their awful plans. msschanny yer wrong I say stared as they boarded their first flight there and we had no idae what they were up to until the wtc.

[msschanny]

Are you joking me? An MIT student who fails to realize the seriousness of wearing what appears to be a BOMB to an AIRPORT. There are 18 year olds fighting and dying in Iraq that realize all too well the seriousness of these acts; this girl is 19 and apparently relatively intelligent given she is a student at MIT but thinks it''s a fabulous idea to wear what appears to be a bomb to an airport. Also, is she entirely ignorant of the world around her? She was 13 when 9/11 happened and the date just passed so unless she lives under a rock it''s funny she didn''t "realize" the part Logan Int''l played in the 9/11 attacks. It''s about like screaming fire in a crowded area because you want to be a fire fighter. Real smart there, MIT girl.

[michellem99-2009]

There was a guy in Seattle who pulled this at a fed court house and they shot him dead. No ifs ,ands, or butts. They shot the gent to kill him as he said he had a bomb on his person. and he was killed. He did not have shch on his person,etc. He paid with his life for just saying so..
My friend said that girl luckey to be alive. There aew places she would not in America.

[clankingjive]

Logan security should get some common sense & situational awareness. Do they even know what city they are living in? Do they know ANYTHING about MIT ??? Can they put together any theory on how some LEDs and a sweatshirt with MIT catchphrases on it equal a hoax device?

This is matchless, almost breathtaking stupidity.

Oh, wait, maybe not matchless. There was another Boston LE group that is also apparently also divorced from the culture in which they live.

I guess they should pay their cops more, & tell tem to get out a little more.

[michellem99-2009]

The cameras are to catch the stealers but they can be used for what they don''t tell us. There been mall killings here are they get the asre. No system is fool proof. Govt buildings they are tight. I have to leave my talking clock at the desk, they go thru my purse. They make us clean out our pockets. That wand over yer person. I hate it. Ever had it shoved yer know where ladies that yer male friend there see it and you know it is wrong and yer keep quiet . I have. I have every thing where I know is and they mess things up. I don''t like the changes as a handicapped person. We roll with it.

[Krazcarl]

toldyouso21 ..your another ignarant carpetbagger type that thinks we don''t see your a troll or village idiot and trying to pretend you have intellegence. M99 I consider a friend you are so lucky were not at a bar but that''s why trolls hide here cause thier gutless,,,