Bolivian man acted alone in Mexico hijacking, official says

CNN Politics ^ | September 9, 2009

[La Lydia]

MEXICO CITY -- A 44-year-old Bolivian drug addict and alcoholic who describes himself as a church minister was the sole person responsible for the brief hijacking Wednesday of a commercial jetliner, a Mexican official said. The suspect -- Josmar Flores Pereira -- told authorities he hijacked the Boeing 737 jet because the date -- September 9, 2009, or 9/9/9, and 666 reversed -- held some significance for him, said Genaro Garcia Luna, the secretary for public safety.

"He said that because of that divine reference he wanted to alert Mexico City of an earthquake," Garcia told reporters.

Flanked by two police officers, the suspect -- wearing a white shirt and blue jeans -- was then paraded in front of the news media. Chewing gum, he smiled.

"Christ is coming soon," he told reporters before being escorted off.

The hijacker took control of Aeromexico Flight 576 as the jet it flew from the resort town of Cancun, telling a flight attendant he was one of three hijackers, Garcia said. He said a cardboard box he had contained a bomb, and threatened to blow it up if his demand to speak to President Felipe Calderon was not met, Garcia said...

The hijacking apparently went unnoticed by many of those aboard the plane, which landed five minutes ahead of scheduled and was moved to a remote area of the airport...Moments later, the suspect -- and several other people -- were taken into custody, TV Azteca said. The package turned out not to contain explosives, the station said. Garcia said the other people who were detained turned out not to be involved.

[La Lydia]

Completemente loco.

[Cindy]

Thanks for the update La Lydia.

[La Lydia]

I have been on that flight several times (once with a newborn) so I was watching this closely.

[AuntB]

“..Moments later, the suspect — and several other people — were taken into custody”

Something is not right here....if this nut was a ‘sole’ actor in this, why were others in custody?

If nothing else, this shows just how bad security on airlines out of Mexico is! This story isn’t over yet.

[AuntB]

More from AP:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hurKrE3xb7Gfc6iwUeTYJy5slHOgD9AK9S3G0

[snips]Jose Flores, a 44-year-old Bolivian preacher who lives in Mexico, had gotten the word from God that he had to warn Mexicans of an impending disaster — an earthquake “like none there has ever been,” he told reporters after being hustled off the plane by police without anyone being injured.

Police later said there was only one hijacker, and the other men were briefly detained because the suspect had told a flight attendant he had three accomplices.

Flores told police his three companions were “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”

He said he hijacked the plane after a divine revelation. Flores told authorities Wednesday’s date — 9-9-09 — is the satanic number 666 turned upside down.

Speaking to reporters after he was detained, Flores said he took control of the aircraft with “a juice can ... with some little lights I attached.”

Garcia Luna said Flores is a drug addict who was convicted of armed robbery in Bolivia and has lived in Mexico for 17 years. Flores described himself as a former drug user and a pastor in southern Oaxaca state who had gone to Cancun to preach.

He is also a Christian music singer who in videos posted on YouTube sings of leaving drugs and finding God. “I was in jail, I was a despicable drug addict, but Christ freed me a few years ago,” he sings along with recorded music at a crowded stadium.