Device to purify water led to terminal evacuation

Published 2:55 pm Monday, June 4, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — The object that prompted an evacuation of Terminal 2 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport turned out to be a device used for water purification.

Airport spokeswoman Melissa Scovronski says Monday that the woman traveling with the device told authorities she needed it for medical purposes.

The device was found by Transportation Security Administration officials about 4:30 p.m. Sunday in a piece of checked baggage. The Bloomington Police Department bomb squad was called, and the airport terminal was evacuated for about two hours while authorities investigated.

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Scovronski says the woman traveling with the device was heading to Anchorage, Alaska, and her flight was delayed due to the evacuation. Once police determined the luggage was hers, she was questioned, then allowed to continue with her travels.

No criminal charges were filed.