OSAKA, Apr 15 (News On Japan) - An 80-year-old man who calls himself an Expo enthusiast was arrested on April 14th for obstructing operations at the entrance gate of the Osaka-Kansai Expo after falsely claiming that he had a bomb in his backpack.
The man, an unemployed resident of Takatsuki City in Osaka Prefecture, reportedly made the remark shortly after 11 a.m. while undergoing a bag check at the western gate of the Expo. According to police, he said something to the effect of "There’s a bomb in my backpack," prompting an emergency response.
Although no dangerous items were found in the backpack, the incident led authorities to cordon off part of the gate for approximately 30 minutes while they confirmed safety. Around 200 visitors in the area were temporarily evacuated as a precaution.
During questioning, the man said, "I got excited because I’m a fan of the Expo and said it half in jest. I didn’t mean to disrupt the event," partially denying the charges.
Source: YOMIURI