21-year old Benjamin Baines, Jr. was arrested on Sunday at Tampa International Airport after a TSA screener found a box cutter in a hollowed-out book in his backpack. The photograph at right was provided by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.

According to a report from the TSA, the books in Baines' backpack included "Muhammad in the Bible," "The Prophet's Prayer" and "The Noble Qur'an."  

Thomas W. Krause of The Tampa Tribune broke the story this morning. "Airport security ran Benjamin Baines Jr.'s backpack through an X-ray machine and saw the image of a box cutter." 

Baines told federal authorities he forgot the box cutter was in the book.  

"After Baines was read his rights, he said his cousin had cut away the pages to make the hollow section in the book. Later, reports state, he said he had hollowed it out himself to hide money and marijuana from his roommates.

Baines told officers he was moving to Las Vegas and forgot the cutter was in the book."

According to the Tribune, Baines was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and is in a local jail. The FBI is investigating. 

Correction 2.21.08: This story was first reported by Steve Huettel of The St. Petersburg Times: TIA Finds Cutter Hidden in Book. Huettel reports further in Box Cutter Suspect Faces Federal Charge.

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