Traveler held with Arabic flash cards sues police

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A college student handcuffed at Philadelphia International Airport and questioned about his Arabic language flash cards is suing several FBI agents, police officers and others.

Nick George, 22, of suburban Wyncote, says he was detained for about four hours and missed his August flight back to school in California. He says it’s even more alarming that his checked luggage made it on board.

George is a senior physics major at Pomona College. He studies Arabic and has traveled to the Mideast and North Africa.

He says he was detained even after it was clear he posed no safety threat.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the federal lawsuit today.

Defendants include three Transportation Security Administration officers.