Cavity Search Produces Suspicious Items

An Iraqi national carrying a magnet and wires inside his rectum set off alarms during passenger screening at LAX on Tuesday.

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Fadhel al-Maliki, 35, of Atlantic City, NJ.

Bomb Squad personnel were summoned to investigate suspicious items, such as a magnet, located in Miliki's rectum during a cavity search, according to Reuters.

"He was secreting these items in a body cavity and that was a great concern because there were also electric wires associated with that cavity," LAX's Security Director for the Transportation Security Administration, Larry Fetters, said.

Maliki was attempting to board the US Airways flight from LAX to Philadelphia when he was detained.

The US Airways flight departed as scheduled -- but with Maliki's luggage still on board. The pilot made an unscheduled stop in Las Vegas, but nothing amiss was found during the subsequent search of the aircraft.

No passengers were evacuated and no flights were disrupted by the incident which occurred at LAX Terminal One.

"There was never a threat," Fetters said.

Local police and the FBI were called in due to "an abundance of caution" because Maliki was "so bizarre in his behavior."

Maliki holds a US green card, and was also questioned by officials as to the status of his immigration.

FMI: www.lawa.org/lax/