Men with knives held at airport [UK: Total of 6 men stopped from boarding]

BBC News On Line ^ | 2003/09/09 | Unsigned

[aculeus]

Two men carrying knives in their hand luggage have been stopped from boarding a passenger plane at Stansted Airport in Essex.

The men were trying to board a Ryanair flight to Oslo in Norway on Tuesday.

It was not yet known if they were known to each other or if they had any links to terrorism.

A total of six men were stopped from boarding the plane as a result of the finds.

Folding knife

The first man stopped, who was a British national, was found to have a small knife in his hand luggage when it was put through the scanner.

He was prevented from boarding the Boeing 737-800 plane.

A second man was then found to have a folding knife in his hand luggage.

Police have not said where the man was from, but confirm he was travelling in a group of five.

The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our number one priority

Ryanair statement

Another man who was trying to board at the same time was stopped from getting on to the plane.

The other three people in the group, who had already gone through the scanner, were then recalled and prevented from flying.

The Ryanair plane, which was due to leave Stansted at 0700 BST to fly to Torp Airport in Oslo, was delayed while their luggage was unloaded but eventually left at 0900 BST.

Police said there was nothing to suggest that the two men found with knives knew each other.

They were continuing their investigations, including checking the men's backgrounds.

In a statement the airline said: "Ryanair commends the prompt action and vigilance of the security staff at Stansted Airport.

"We apologise sincerely to our passengers for the delay, but safety and security of our passengers and crew is our number one priority." The finds come amid heightened security fears as the second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist atrocities approaches.

[Grampa Dave]

Whenever, the left wing PC mediots in England fail to note the race/religion/ethnic reality of potential terrorists like these scumbags, odds are above 95% that they are Islamofascist/Kazis with suicide and jihad controlling them.

[Robert_Paulson2]

rofl

[Robert_Paulson2]

boing... dead center...

[Robert_Paulson2]

damn funny....
I mean that.
roflmao.

[NorseWood]

Don't ya know . . they were just flying up to Norway with their knives in their pockets so they could work in the sardine canning factories . . . filleting sardines!

[ClancyJ]

Great job by security. This is what I want to see - thinking security people.

[tracer]

"We regret the inconvenience caused but we must take stringent precautions regarding passenger safety and we are sure the public understand."

"And airport gift shop cashier who sold them the knives has been sacked".......

[Grampa Dave]

The Brits invented and perfected PC television.

They have no problem protraying so called white racists from America being the biggest terrorist problem in the UK in fiction and real life.

Yet, like the local fishwraps in California and the biggies, whenever a violent crime is committed by a PC group member, the race and pictures are never shown nor mentioned. Only when the news gets out on a conservative source, do we find out the ethnic reality.

[mhking]

[UK: Total of 6 men stopped from boarding]

SHIELDS UP!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

That's why you have to think that it might be. If they were "standard" Europeans, that would have been broadcast far and wide.

[CheneyChick]

LOL!

[Publius6961]

Ethnicity and/or religion please?

[Quilla]

I don't get it.

;-) FOFL

[AmericanInTokyo]

LOL. I love your humour.

[1234]

AP now describing them as "of Eastern background."

Eastern England descent?

[Cicero]

I always used to carry a penknife in my pocket. My guess is that these folks just forgot to leave their pocketknives at home.

[NeoCaveman]

AP now describing them as "of Eastern background."

Pesky Chinese terrorists..... (just kidding)

[Lijahsbubbe]

Sven and Ollie, Lutherans.

[esarlls3]

Yes, I always carry a Victorinox Tinker (the one with slotted and phillips screwdrivers) in my pocket. Usually, I put it in my checked baggage for a flight. One time I forgot and donated it to the next Security Guard Flea Market fund. They put it in a drawer with SEVERAL HUNDRED pocket knives in it. Not a bad daily take from careless people.