Canadian Police Say Man Sought To Fly To LAX With Bomb Components

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A man traveling to Los Angeles was stopped at a Montreal airport after bomb-making components were allegedly found in his luggage Sunday morning.

Antony Piazza, 71, was in custody Tuesday and under questioning by Canadian law enforcement after attempting to board a flight to LAX at Pierre Trudeau Airport. According to Canadian media reports, police said his luggage contained everything needed to make a bomb, but not any explosives.

Canadian media reports estimated 16 flights bound for the U.S. were halted and Piazza's suburban Montreal duplex was searched as a result of the discovery.

A native of Iran, Piazza moved to Canada in 1979 and changed his name from Houshang Nazemi in 1986. He had been sentenced to a 10-year prison term in 1985 for drug trafficking, according to CBC News.

Los Angeles police said they were not involved in the investigation and a spokesperson for the FBI said it was not immediately clear why the suspect may have been traveling to Los Angeles.

Piazza could face 10 years in prison if convicted.

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