Manhattan, New York
In April, Jason Smith called the 911 emergency operator using his iPad and identified himself as “Abdul Yasin” and threatened “we” are preparing to “blow up” the Statue of Liberty, according to officials.
It was a hoax.
But law enforcement responded to the threat and made sweeps of the areas in and around the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island with help from police K-9 units. The dogs alerted to the area of visitor lockers at the base of the Statue of Liberty. There was an evacuation of more than 3,200 people who were on Liberty Island at the time.
Officials found the threat to be unfounded, officials said.
Smith, 42, of Harts, West Virginia was arrested Wednesday. He is facing up to five years in prison for making a hoax threat and is charge with one count of conveying false and misleading information and hoaxes, officials said.
The iPad registered in Smith’s name was allegedly used to make other 911 calls, including at least two calls in May 2015 from a user who identified himself as “Isis allah Bomb maker” and who threatened to attack Times Square and kill police officers at the Brooklyn Bridge, officials said.
Smith is presumed innocent until proven guilty, according to authorities.