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Posts Tagged ‘arrested’

Film crew arrested for allegedly trying to sneak a ‘fake bomb’ through airport security

24 Jan

A Dutch television film crew was arrested last Thursday at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after attempting to take what is being called a ‘fake bomb’ through security. The alleged fake bomb was composed of a PVC pipe, wires, and a motor, according to law enforcement sources speaking to ABC News, though the crew’s production house claims it was actually ‘vacuum compression luggage.’

The arrests involved nine cast and crew members working on an upcoming series called “Staten Island Hustle” for Endemol Shine North America and Left Hook Media, according to a statement released by Endemol Shine.

You can watch the short news report by ABC News and see a picture of the ‘fake bomb’ from the TSA below:

Photo: TSA

In a statement given to NJ Advance Media, the company said the device wasn’t a fake bomb, but rather a prototype for vacuum luggage able to accommodate a larger number of items than ordinary luggage:

Unfortunately, there appears to have been a misunderstanding, and we regret any inconvenience to TSA and other authorities on the ground for complications that may have been caused.

However, TSA officials allege that the crew attempted to sneak the contraption past security officials while secretly recording the incident for a TV episode, and that the vacuum luggage system had all the indicators of being an IED. According to NJ.com, all nine individuals have been charged with conspiracy, creating a false public alarm, and interference with transportation.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Banksy Not Arrested: How 1 Man’s Viral Hoax Duped Millions

25 Oct

[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Street Art & Graffiti. ]

fake banksy spoof photo

By now you may know that the world’s most famous street artist has indeed not been detained by police and his identity remains secret, but how much do you know about the prankster who perpetrated this scandalous subterfuge? For those who missed the start of this affair: a supposedly anonymous author claimed Banksy was unmasked and taken into custody by London police a few days ago during an elaborate sting operation – the story spread like wildfire despite being easy (for those so inclined) to debunk.

free banksy fake identityt

Paul Horner, the man behind the National Report piece, fingered himself as the real Banksy. In reality, he is a serial hoaxer with a history of viral exploits (often involving his own identity) of which this is simply the latest. In many ways, he is a subversive and comedic artist in his own right, arguably not so unlike Banksy after all, who has himself been known to dupe fans for fun if not profit. One could argue that Horner’s artistic stunts simply take other shapes, like writing, coming out of a background of activism and comedy. He is also not the only one who has cleverly used Banksy’s own stunts for creative monetary gain.

banksy not revealed image

His fake story, titled Graffiti Artist Banksy Arrested In London; Identity Revealed, has been shared 3.5 million times on Facebook so far, despite being published on a website well known for reporting fictional (and frequently  hilariously improbable) news. Another early clue: the article’s thin sourcing is relatively transparent: a link to the BBC takes you to their homepage, not an article. For anyone in doubt, there is also fresh new work up on Banksy.co.uk, shown below.

banksy art

Beyond that, the article is riddled with inaccuracies, including inconsistent locations and names as well as an image of an arrest that took place years prior in an unrelated incident. Indeed, the further you read, the more ludicrous the entire thing looks, and yet it fooled millions of believers, too gullible or perhaps simply too eager to finish the piece before sharing it. Superficially, in defense of those duped, it has all of the trappings of a real breaking news piece, including seemingly-relevant pictures and videos peppered throughout.

As for Horner, he “has been alternately described as a media troll, a liar and a hack, but he sees his work in a different light: one part activism, one part fan fiction, and many parts subversive, absurdist comedy.” His exploits include (but are not limited to) claiming he was cast in The Big Lebowski 2 (a film that is not even in production) and the mastermind behind a plan to charge Facebook users for pro accounts. Some would call his pranks and pretensions cruel, but in the midst of the controversy, one has to wonder: what does the real Banksy think of all of this? Does he see a kindred spirit or simply someone using his name to turn a profit?

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[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Street Art & Graffiti. ]

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Former Olympus Chairman and President, and six others arrested over scandal

19 Feb

Kikukawa.jpg

The former President and Chairman of Olympus who oversaw the financial mismanagement that has seen the company’s value more than halved, has been arrested. Tsuyoshi Kikukawa and his former vice-president Hisashi Mori who has also been arrested, were only forced out of the company after ex-CEO Michael Woodford spoke out, saying he was removed for uncovering their actions. Company auditor Hideo Yamada and four bankers connected to the cover-up of billions of dollars-worth of investment losses were also arrested. (from Reuters)

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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