Man caught with explosives at Gatwick???
Feb 13, 2003 | 11:29 am
#1
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Man caught with explosives at Gatwick???
Local radio here in Midwest USA broke in with a story that a guy at LGW was taken into custody with a live grenade or similar (conventional) device. Can't find a newslink anywhere, though... Anyone confirm???
Feb 13, 2003 | 12:12 pm
#3
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Latest News from LGW website
http://www.baa.co.uk/main/general/ba...2003_page.html
" Following a security incident earlier today which resulted in the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport closing, flights from the airport are operating as follows:-
- Flights departing from the North Terminal are currently suspended however inbound flights are arriving as normal and passengers are arriving through the South Terminal.
- Passengers expecting to travel from the North Terminal today should contact their airline for up to date information about individual flights.
- Approach roads to the North Terminal are open but access to the Terminal building is restricted.
- Flights in and outbound from the South Terminal are operating as normal. However, we would advise passengers that they may experience some delays as a result of today's earlier incident.
Gatwick Airport is working closely with Sussex Police and other airport agencies to resolve this as quickly as possible.
Update as at 1730 hrs
At approx 16:50 today a 37 year old man was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 by officers from Sussex Police in the north terminal of Gatwick Airport.
The man, a Venezuelan national, had arrived at Gatwick on a BA flight (BA 2048) from Colombia.
On arrival at the airport the man's luggage was searched and found to contain a suspicious item. The item has been examined by explosives officers and it appears to be a grenade.
The man has been transferred into the custody of the Metropolitan Police Service's Anti Terrorist Branch officers and is being taken to a central London police station for questioning. The Anti Terrorist Branch will now be leading this enquiry."
Nigel
http://www.baa.co.uk/main/general/ba...2003_page.html
" Following a security incident earlier today which resulted in the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport closing, flights from the airport are operating as follows:-
- Flights departing from the North Terminal are currently suspended however inbound flights are arriving as normal and passengers are arriving through the South Terminal.
- Passengers expecting to travel from the North Terminal today should contact their airline for up to date information about individual flights.
- Approach roads to the North Terminal are open but access to the Terminal building is restricted.
- Flights in and outbound from the South Terminal are operating as normal. However, we would advise passengers that they may experience some delays as a result of today's earlier incident.
Gatwick Airport is working closely with Sussex Police and other airport agencies to resolve this as quickly as possible.
Update as at 1730 hrs
At approx 16:50 today a 37 year old man was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 by officers from Sussex Police in the north terminal of Gatwick Airport.
The man, a Venezuelan national, had arrived at Gatwick on a BA flight (BA 2048) from Colombia.
On arrival at the airport the man's luggage was searched and found to contain a suspicious item. The item has been examined by explosives officers and it appears to be a grenade.
The man has been transferred into the custody of the Metropolitan Police Service's Anti Terrorist Branch officers and is being taken to a central London police station for questioning. The Anti Terrorist Branch will now be leading this enquiry."
Nigel
Feb 13, 2003 | 12:40 pm
#4
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So they didn't find this out till AFTER he arrived?????
what made them so suspicious to check his bags AFTER arrival???
Something seems quite wrong with this picture
what made them so suspicious to check his bags AFTER arrival???
Something seems quite wrong with this picture
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by beergut:
Latest News from LGW website
http://www.baa.co.uk/main/general/baa/gatwick_north_terminal_closure_13_februar y_2003_page.html
The man, a Venezuelan national, had arrived at Gatwick on a BA flight (BA 2048) from Colombia.
On arrival at the airport the man's luggage was searched and found to contain a suspicious item. The item has been examined by explosives officers and it appears to be a grenade.
</font>
Latest News from LGW website
http://www.baa.co.uk/main/general/baa/gatwick_north_terminal_closure_13_februar y_2003_page.html
The man, a Venezuelan national, had arrived at Gatwick on a BA flight (BA 2048) from Colombia.
On arrival at the airport the man's luggage was searched and found to contain a suspicious item. The item has been examined by explosives officers and it appears to be a grenade.
</font>
Feb 13, 2003 | 1:01 pm
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TrojanHorse:
So they didn't find this out till AFTER he arrived?????
what made them so suspicious to check his bags AFTER arrival???
Something seems quite wrong with this picture
</font>
So they didn't find this out till AFTER he arrived?????
what made them so suspicious to check his bags AFTER arrival???
Something seems quite wrong with this picture
</font>
Feb 13, 2003 | 3:00 pm
#8
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The flight was from Bogata. Did someone mention drugs??? Those flights are descended upon by customs when they arrive, so it was probably during a routine check.
Just missed all the hoo-ha, as I left my office (which is near the South Terminal) just before 5pm. Only odd thing I noticed was a police van at the junction (which there seemed to be a post van, so I thought it was just broken down). Only found out about the LGW stuff when I got home.
Just missed all the hoo-ha, as I left my office (which is near the South Terminal) just before 5pm. Only odd thing I noticed was a police van at the junction (which there seemed to be a post van, so I thought it was just broken down). Only found out about the LGW stuff when I got home.
Feb 13, 2003 | 3:08 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,135
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by beergut:
grenade was in hold luggage</font>
grenade was in hold luggage</font>
Feb 14, 2003 | 7:01 pm
#10
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Location: UK
Posts: 3,081
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Wingnut:
Hi beergut - do you have a source for this? I can hearing / reading that they won't confirm whether it was hand or hold baggage (although I'm assuming the latter...!).
</font>
Hi beergut - do you have a source for this? I can hearing / reading that they won't confirm whether it was hand or hold baggage (although I'm assuming the latter...!).
</font>
I think it was one of the numerous news channels on Thursday evening, if I was watching any it would have been BBC.
Just checked their website and although it doesn't say if it's hold luggage they do say that it was spotted in a left luggage area. Mind you it also says
" Meanwhile a 37-year-old Venezuelan man is still being questioned by police, after being caught trying to smuggle a live grenade through customs at Gatwick "
Gets more confusing by the minute !
Nigel
[This message has been edited by beergut (edited 02-14-2003).]