Bio Attack Threat Tweets Target Carnival Magic

A Nashville-based neurosurgeon, Jack Kruse, was set to appear as a guest speaker onboard the Carnival Magic as a part of Jimmy Moore’s 5th Annual Low-Carb Cruise. The ship was prepared to depart out of Galveston, Texas on Sunday until Carnival officials came across some unsettling tweets allegedly from Kruse.

The messages claimed that the doctor had a vial of Legionnaires, a severe form of the infection Legionellosis that produces high fever and pneumonia. The series of tweets spoke of the plan for a mass “bio hack” aboard the Carnival liner. The Twitter account was found to be deactivated, but Carnival had already alerted the authorities – including Galveston police, the FBI, and the U.S. Coast Guard. All of whom boarded the ship to conduct a complete investigation.

Kruse’s bags were searched, he was questioned, and he was asked to leave the ship. It was eventually found that Kruse was not responsible for the threats, but he did not re-board the Magic. Additionally, Carnival received e-mail warnings regarding a doctor that would be boarding their ship to conduct a bio attack.

Carnival later released a statement acknowledging the incident and has offered to fly Kruse to the ship's next port of call. Kruse told USA Today that he declined Carnival’s offer, since he already missed his scheduled lecture. He did applaud the company for telling the more than 300 guests attending the low-carb event why he was absent.