MIT bomb prank student lucky to be alive

[PWD]

Who says MIT students are smart?

MIT student 'lucky to be alive' after fake bomb prank

Teen arrested at Boston's Logan Airport with mock device strapped to her chest

Sep 21, 2007 12:06 PM
The Associated Press
BOSTON — An MIT student with a fake bomb strapped to her chest was arrested at gunpoint today 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.”

The device had wires connected to a battery, allowing it to light up, he said. Simpson also had Play-Doh in her hands, he said.

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

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

Simpson was “extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used,” Pare said. “She’s lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue.”

Simpson is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology sophomore from Hawaii, officials said. A spokeswoman for MIT had no immediate comment.

Simpson was arrested about 8 a.m. outside Terminal C, home to United Airlines, Jet Blue and other carriers.

A Massachusetts Port Authority staffer at 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 information booth attendant notified a nearby policeman.

The state trooper, joined by others with submachine-guns, confronted her at a traffic island in front of the terminal.

Pare said Simpson took a subway to the airport, but he was not sure if she had the device on at that time.

“She was allegedly picking somebody up,” he said.

Pare praised the booth attendant but said the incident is a reminder of the terrorism threat confronting the civil aviation system. Two of the four passenger jets hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, took off from Logan.

“In this day and age, the threat continues to be there,” said Pare. “She certainly jeopardized her own safety by bringing this to the airport, as well as the safety of everybody around her.”

The city was the focus of a major security scare Jan. 31 when dozens of battery-powered devices were discovered in various locations. Bomb squads were deployed, and highways, bridges and some transit stations were temporarily closed. They turned out to be a promotion for cable TV’s Cartoon Network.

God damn, if I were her father I'd be kicking her ass right now. What unbelievable idiocy.

[TiQuinn]

Well, she gets to start her college career off with a criminal record. Good work!

[Northcott]

Who says MIT students are smart?



God damn, if I were her father I'd be kicking her ass right now. What unbelievable idiocy.

Her father named her "Star". He can't care about her that much.

My God, but this reaches for the brass ring of stupidity. How the Hell did she not get a bullet through the head? That kid's got to be part cat, 'cause she's already down one life and still walking around.

[Bagpuss]

Having seen pictures the "fake bomb" looks nothing like a fake bomb. Some one got overly spooked and alerted the police. Who handled it really well as did this girl (since she didn't get shot). The fact she has actually been charged with having a hoax device is the real stupid part in this story, it should have just been cleared up when it was obvious it was a bit of tech art from a geek.

[TiQuinn]

Having seen pictures the "fake bomb" looks nothing like a fake bomb. Some one got overly spooked and alerted the police. Who handled it really well as did this girl (since she didn't get shot). The fact she has actually been charged with having a hoax device is the real stupid part in this story, it should have just been cleared up when it was obvious it was a bit of tech art from a geek.

There's been far more "fake-looking" real bombs than that. There is no playing hoaxes of that nature in airports. That'll earn you a felony conviction in a hurry.

[Dacke]

Who says MIT students are smart?
Another demonstration of the difference between Intelligence and Wisdom.

[doc]

Having seen pictures the "fake bomb" looks nothing like a fake bomb. Some one got overly spooked and alerted the police. Who handled it really well as did this girl (since she didn't get shot). The fact she has actually been charged with having a hoax device is the real stupid part in this story, it should have just been cleared up when it was obvious it was a bit of tech art from a geek.

Bagpuss, if I had seen that "back in the day" I would have thought it was real too. a "real bomb" can look like anything, from a 20 oz Dew bottle (Flamable liquid inside with a det./ battery in cap) to Semtex molded inside a walking cane with a deadman switch handle. Girl is lucky to be alive.

[Freedom Canadian]

There's been far more "fake-looking" real bombs than that.

Mmh, that's not a very sound argument. Real bombs don't look like bombs, usually. That's the point. And they certainly never look like movie bombs. They can look like anything (edit: which Doc has pointed out already. :))

If people freak out when they see anything that looks like something a bomb has looked like in the past, they will freak out at anything.

There is no playing hoaxes of that nature in airports. That'll earn you a felony conviction in a hurry.

Agreed.

[TiQuinn]

Mmh, that's not a very sound argument. Real bombs don't look like bombs, usually. That's the point. And they certainly never look like movie bombs. They can look like anything (edit: which Doc has pointed out already. :))

If people freak out when they see anything that looks like something a bomb has looked like in the past, they will freak out at anything.

I was trying to be nice and not say that Bagpuss wouldn't know what a real bomb looked like if it were sitting right in front of him. ;)

The rest of what you said I agree with: A bomb can look like almost anything since it can be improvised from any number of common items, and is more likely to look like this little dipshit's piece of art than something off of "24".

Another factor that people tend to forget is that there have been multiple instances of people testing security through mock objects: fake guns, fake knives, fake bombs, whatever. It's all too easy to dismiss as a harmless prank.

[Northcott]

And they certainly never look like movie bombs.

Y'know, I'd really rather that people blow the whistle when they see something that looks like a movie bomb -- just to be on the safe side. ;)

[Freedom Canadian]

Y'know, I'd really rather that people blow the whistle when they see something that looks like a movie bomb -- just to be on the safe side. ;)

Well, they can't *not* blow the whistle in such a case. But it has more to do with covering their asses than any real security concern.

[Northcott]

See, that's it: I'd rather it remain a real concern. I rather like the idea that the authorities will treat it deadly serious rather than look at it and think; "Ah, Hollywood bomb. Obviously a prank." And perhaps slack off mentally, or be less sharp.

I'm probably expressing myself poorly. It's been one of those days.

[Freedom Canadian]

I'm probably expressing myself poorly. It's been one of those days.

Nah, I get your point and I agree it should remain a real concern, just not on the reason for it. :)

[Atticus_of_Amber]

I was trying to be nice and not say that Bagpuss wouldn't know what a real bomb looked like if it were sitting right in front of him. ;)

The rest of what you said I agree with: A bomb can look like almost anything since it can be improvised from any number of common items, and is more likely to look like this little dipshit's piece of art than something off of "24".

Another factor that people tend to forget is that there have been multiple instances of people testing security through mock objects: fake guns, fake knives, fake bombs, whatever. It's all too easy to dismiss as a harmless prank.

That testing security point is a good one. Hadn't thought of that.

I do think the charge is a bit much, though. By all means, detain here and make sure its's a fake. Hell, if she'd made a wrong move, I'd even defend the guy who shot her. But once it's clear that it was a pieces of geeky art and that she wasn't some terrorist "canary in the cole mine", lighten up a little!

[Scarbonac]

Aw, c'mon; this is the dawning of the Age of Hysteria, after all.

[Harry]

Bagpuss, if I had seen that "back in the day" I would have thought it was real too. a "real bomb" can look like anything, from a 20 oz Dew bottle (Flamable liquid inside with a det./ battery in cap) to Semtex molded inside a walking cane with a deadman switch handle. Girl is lucky to be alive.

The bomb that was planted outside the door of my shop in Milwaukee? When I saw it, I wondered what the big deal was. It didn't look like much, at first glance, nothing but a 2 liter bottle of Sprite. But when the bomb squad showed up, and shepherded most folks away, they pointed out that the best case scenario for when it went off, and it was going to go off, considering its placement, was that one of my employees or customers would have been horribly burned or scarred. Worst case, death.

[Janos]

Y'know, I'd really rather that people blow the whistle when they see something that looks like a movie bomb -- just to be on the safe side. ;)

Within limits. After all Boston cops are still living down the stupidity of (http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/aqua_teen_hunger_force_promotion_terrorizes_boston/) assuming that anything aguely like a movie bomb might be a real one.

[Hastur T. Fannon]

Aw, c'mon; this is the dawning of the Age of Hysteria, after all.

If I had the time, energy, inclination and I could find the copy of the script from my wife's school production of "Hair", I'd now be posting a filk of "The Age of Aquarius" entitled "The Age of Hysteria"

Unfortunately, I don't and can't, so I'm not. You'll just have to imagine it

[cnath.rm]

If I had the time, energy, inclination and I could find the copy of the script from my wife's school production of "Hair", I'd now be posting a filk of "The Age of Aquarius" entitled "The Age of Hysteria"

Unfortunately, I don't and can't, so I'm not. You'll just have to imagine itThat is what came to my mind as well, I'm glad that I'm not the only one enjoying the idea. :D

[Hastur T. Fannon]

That is what came to my mind as well, I'm glad that I'm not the only one enjoying the idea. :D

Dammit, why do I have to have a real job. Why can't someone pay me to stay at home and come up with high wierdness?

[Ancalagon]

Dammit, why do I have to have a real job. Why can't someone pay me to stay at home and come up with high wierdness?

You have to be an evil genius for that. And you don't exactly get paid either - but you do get to blackmail the world into giving you...

... one million dollars!

http://www.thetechlounge.com/forum/images/smilies/more_smilies/drevil1.gif

[Bagpuss]

There is no playing hoaxes of that nature in airports. That'll earn you a felony conviction in a hurry.

A hoax is an act intended to deceive or trick. That was not her intention, thus she shouldn't be facing a felony. I'm fine with her getting stopped by the police but once it became clear that it was not a bomb, and she never made any attempt to convince people it was a bomb, she should have just had a caution and been sent on her way.

It reminds me of this other over reaction (http://pr.typepad.com/pr_communications/2007/02/aqua_teen_hunge.html)

[strawberry]

A hoax is an act intended to deceive or trick. That was not her intention, thus she shouldn't be facing a felony. I'm fine with her getting stopped by the police but once it became clear that it was not a bomb, and she never made any attempt to convince people it was a bomb, she should have just had a caution and been sent on her way.

It reminds me of this other over reaction (http://pr.typepad.com/pr_communications/2007/02/aqua_teen_hunge.html)

She should be facing a felony charge of being a fucking narcissistic clueless idiot.

[Northcott]

She should be facing a felony charge of being a fucking narcissistic clueless idiot.

I'll go with that one.

[Xavier Lang]

She should be facing a felony charge of being a fucking narcissistic clueless idiot.

If you start sending people to jail or prison for stupidity you are going to have to send everyone up the river.

[Limper]

If you start sending people to jail or prison for stupidity you are going to have to send everyone up the river.

You have a point... and in order to keep it from getting that annoying I put forth the proposition that we have public lashes or canings or some other embarassing thing that makes stupidity painful for a time and in no time at all I bet people are less overtly stupid.

[Dawnstar]

If you start sending people to jail or prison for stupidity you are going to have to send everyone up the river.

That is true but if you pull a fire alarm, or scream fire in a crowd you can get in major trouble. This girl really should have thought about what she was going to be doing before doing it. I mean especially at the airport. She could have some charges against her and I do not feel sorry for her.

[Brynja]

If you start sending people to jail or prison for stupidity you are going to have to send everyone up the river.


I am ok with this. Can we shoot them into space?

[Atticus_of_Amber]

When I was studying criminal law at uni, our lecturer used to joke about the need for an offence of "criminal stupidity".

I have to say, when you read the facts of those cases, you wonder what species some of those people are. It's not the depravity, that's actually the minority of cases (though the depravity when it's there is pretty disgusting), it was the mindless, thoughtless, bad-judgement stupidity of some of their decision-making that just boggled my mind.

[TiQuinn]

If you start sending people to jail or prison for stupidity you are going to have to send everyone up the river.

Or you can just send people who pull stupid pranks designed to incite a reaction from police or airport security to jail.

[Dark Jezter]

If she would have been shot and killed, she'd be eligable for a Darwin Award.

[Limper]

If she would have been shot and killed, she'd be eligable for a Darwin Award.

Good point! I wish her a wonderfully fatal shanking in the big house.

[Ancalagon]

This is where I'm at. I don't believe that the girl strapped the thing on because she thought it matched her shoes, I think she wanted to create an incident. Even if she was dumb enough to think that it was just a prank, people who pull pranks that have that high a chance of causing a panic and/or riot and getting themselves shot deserve to have to deal with the fallout.

Never explain with malice what can be explained with stupidity

My question would be the timing - was it the first time she walked around with her lame-o blinking lights, or was this something she did regularly (trying to go for the r-tard cyborg look)? Because if it's the second, her though process was probably "hey, I'll but on my green lights today! It'll be cool!"

Ancalagon