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Man arrested at Jacksonville airport said he had bomb, authorities say

Police block the road to the Jacksonville International Airport terminal as a shuttle used to move people out of the airport drives by Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, in Jacksonville, Fla. The airport was evacuated after authorities found two suspicious packages.
Police block the road to the Jacksonville International Airport terminal as a shuttle used to move people out of the airport drives by Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, in Jacksonville, Fla. AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bruce Lipsky

(CBS/AP) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Authorities said a man arrested at Florida's Jacksonville International Airport told security screeners he had a bomb in his backpack but they only found a luggage scale with a microchip inside, along with a remote control device he called a "detonator."

Zeljko Causevic, 39, was booked into jail early Wednesday and was being held without bond on charges that included making a false report about planting a bomb or explosive and manufacturing, possessing, selling or delivering a hoax bomb, according to an arrest report.

CBS Jacksonville affiliate WTEV-TV reports that investigators say Causevic was in a security checkpoint area and said, "I got a bomb in here." According to the report, the suspect then told airport workers that "he had a camouflage backpack with a bomb, but it's not." Police found a microchip inside the device.

The arrest report indicates Causevic approached a Transportation Security Administration agent Tuesday and said he had a bomb in his bag. The TSA agents notified authorities. Airport spokesman Michael Stewart said Causevic was detained between 5:30 and 6 p.m. The airport was evacuated and flights were stoppedbefore reaching the gates. Passengers were displaced for nearly five hours.

Causevic was scheduled to appear in bond court in Jacksonville Wednesday afternoon. An arrest report indicates he is originally from Bosnia.

Another person was arrested after officials say he started acting suspiciously but authorities said he was not connected to Causevic.

The airport was back to normal operation Wednesday morning.

Passengers and people who arrived at the airport to pick them up Tuesday evening were stranded for hours as officials investigated.

Authorities said some incoming planes were held up on the tarmac until buses arrived to pick up passengers. The passengers were shuttled to nearby hotels.

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