By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
A Kansas avionic technician who had restricted access to secure airport areas was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Monday for trying to detonate a car bomb at the airport in Wichita.
Terry Lee Loewen, 60, attempted to enter a secure area of Wichita Mid-Continental Airport to detonate the bomb when he was arrested in December 2013.
He was convicted of one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction on June 8.
“Terry Loewen abused his privileged airport access to attempt to perpetrate a terrorist attack in Wichita,” Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin said. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is protecting the United States against terrorist threats. We will continue to pursue justice against those who seek to carry out violent attacks against Americans, whether at home or abroad.”
The FBI was first made aware of Loewen after he became a Facebook friend of someone advocating terrorism.