West Virginia Man Charged In Statue Of Liberty Bomb Threat Hoax
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A West Virginia man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly calling in a hoax threat to blow up the Statue of Liberty.
Jason Paul Smith, 42, of Harts, West Virginia, was arrested in Lubbock, Texas, authorities said. According to federal prosecutors, he made a call to 911 on April 24 using an iPad and a service that helps hearing-impaired people make phone calls. In the call, Smith identified himself as an "ISI terrorist" named "Abdul Yasin" and threatened that "we" are preparing to "blow up" the Statue of Liberty, prosecutors said.
The threat led officials to evacuate more than 3,200 people from Liberty Island while a security sweep with bomb-sniffing dogs could be conducted. The threat was determined to be a hoax.
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Authorities said the iPad registered in Smith's name was used to make at least two other 911 calls in May from a caller who identified himself as "Isis allah Bomb maker" and threatened to attack Times Square and kill police officers at the Brooklyn Bridge.
Smith is charged with conveying false and misleading information and hoaxes. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.