PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 27 (UPI) — The man who allegedly threatened to blow up the Liberty Bell has been identified, Philadelphia police said.
Police say Carlos J. Balsas, 41, of Tempe, Ariz., threatened to blow up the Liberty Bell Saturday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Balsas allegedly entered the Liberty Bell pavilion Saturday morning carrying a backpack. When he was told by security personnel that the bag needed to be searched, Balsas replied: “I have explosives in there.”
Security guards notified the U.S. Park Rangers, who stopped Balsas on Market Street.
Police said Balsas was uncooperative with the Park Rangers and after a brief struggle, the suspect was arrested.
No evidence of explosives was found in Balsas’ backpack, police said.
Balsas was charged with terroristic threats, bomb threats, possessing an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person and related offenses.
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