On Sunday, October 27, Anthony Piazza, a 71-year-old Canadian citizen of Iranian descent, was taken into custody after parts of a potential explosive device were found in his carry-on luggage at Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport during a routine security inspection. Piazza attempted to board the Los Angeles bound flight with the bag, which reportedly contained wires, bullets and an unidentified powder. When questioned about the suspicious contents, Piazza replied that he was holding the bag for someone else, but did not specify further. He has been charged with mischief, endangering the safety of an aircraft or airport and allegedly being in illegal possesion of an explosive material.
The airport was temporarily closed, causing flight delays for several hours. The passengers and flight crew members from the Los Angeles bound flight were questioned. The plane’s luggage was also searched as a precaution. Additionally, Piazza’s neighborhood was temporarily shut down for the police investigation. Although authorities searched Piazza’s apartment and vehicle, they have yet to confirm any significant leads.
After moving to Canada from Tehran in 1979, Piazza changed his name from Houshang Nazemi. After several years, he was arrested in 1985 for smuggling drugs into Canada for which he served a ten year sentence. Then in 1996, he was fined for violating copyright laws at his Canadian business that provided Iranian-language film rentals.
The MSA Research and Intelligence Team has been following this situation closely, and has identified the following implications:
- Piazza is continuing to maintain his innocence, and details about the case remain ambiguous.
- The incident underscores the importance of proper screening measures to counter potential criminals and terrorists in their attempts to either carry out an attack or hold a dry run to test security operations for future acts.
- Based on previous tradecraft, operatives look to test ways to bypass standard security protocols.
- Additionally, the event highlights the importance of travelers remaining vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times.
