Last updated:10/04/2008
Project sparks terror scare

A science project malfunction caused train passengers in New York to believe they were in the middle of a terrorist attack last month.

Gregory Kats, 29, has apologised for the scare which was caused when his science project, a model of an elevator’s inner workings, short-circuited and started smoking in his backpack.

Kats, a computer engineering student at the New York City College of Technology, yelled out, “This is not a bomb! This is not terror!” as scared commuters rushed for the exits.

The box he was holding had a small battery, wires and a motor.

Kats, who was questioned by police and later released, says next time he’ll be much more careful and keep his electronic projects at home.

“I’m very sorry for what happened,” he said.

“I hate to scare people. Next time, I’ll be much more careful and keep my electronic projects at home.”