If these items were determined to be safe, why did the passenger have "voluntarily abandon" them? I suppose they could be used as weapons, but how much damage could someone do before being severely beaten by other passengers? There are plenty of other items that I can carry through security or buy airside that could be just as dangerous.

This wouldn't have happened if the items had been disposed of in the special explosive disposal container...oops I mean regular trash can next to the checkpoint where all the "dangerous" liquids are tossed.