What lengths some hardcore surfers can go just to catch some quality waves ![]()
Teen planned to join Al Queda
By Lewis Buchwald
Teen: Sick of Rat beach closeouts.
LAX security
A 15-year-old Torrance surfer was arrested at LAX last night when he provided a fake passport to Transportation Security Administration officials. The teen was trying to board a Singapore Air flight bound for Indonesia. Airport security officials became suspicious when the teen, who was traveling without adult supervision, handed them a âdoctoredâ passport with the name âCat Stevensâ on it.
During questioning after his arrest, the teen admitted to FBI officials that he was planning to join Al Queda, but only because he wanted a free surf trip to Indonesia. âThe young man had heard, through a completely baseless and false hoax email, that the Al Queda terrorist network was hiring operatives to work in Indonesia, and that the terror network would pay for airfare and lodgingâ said an FBI spokesman. âHe claims that he just wanted to go surfing for free. And that he had no plans on actually becoming a terrorist. We are actively investigating his claims.â
The young man, who was booked and then released to his parents, was overheard complaining to them that he was âsick of surfing Rat beach closeoutsâ, a reference to his local surf spots less than stellar wave quality.