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.

[Peach]

I wonder if they were Muslims?

[Starrgaizr]

Just some run of the mill Norwegian terrorists, probably.

[Dirk McQuickly]

For some reason, it is against the law to describe the perps if they are of middle eastern descent.

[Peach]

For some reason, it is against the law to describe the perps if they are of middle eastern descent

For some reason I keep forgetting that!

[Hatteras]

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

I bet they were all Middle-Eastern men between the ages of 18 to 35.

[JustAnAmerican]

"I wonder if they were Muslims?"

The fact that one was called a "British National" and the others ethnicity mentioned as unknown, makes it a 99.9 percent certainty.

[New Horizon]

Oh, I'm sure it was nothing to worry about.

Any idea of their religious background?

[BenLurkin]

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

[meg70]

'British National' is journalism code naming that they gave to Richard Reid.

[alancarp]

I'm sorry, I thought Howard Dean said we were less safe now than before the Iraq war -- so his administration would have stopped these guys? ... or would they have even been found out?

[wideawake]

The only explanation is that they are terrorists.

Even if there were any important international football matches going on this week in Oslo, and I don't know of any, every football hooligan knows that he will be arrested if armed: he needs to buy his weapons when he arrives at his destination.

[Peach]

Like the Dover port closing incident, there were three Muslims who were arrested, posted bond and we haven't heard a word since.

It will be the same way here. My feeling is we've stopped far more terrorist attacks than we are given reason to believe.

[DoctorMichael]

Jeeze! They could at least say whether they were "SWARTHY" or not.

[Quilla]

I'm curious to know about their tickets. Were they one ways paid with cash?

[concerned about politics]

Mohammad, Mohammad, Mohammad, Mohammad, Mohammad, and their other brother Mohammad.

[taxcontrol]

Armed pilot to two would be terrorists carrying folding knives.

"I see you brought a knife to a gun fight - tisk tisk"
"I see your 8" and raise you 9mm"

...make up your own.

[wideawake]

AP now describing them as "of Eastern background."

[Pan_Yans Wife]

My feeling is we've stopped far more terrorist attacks than we are given reason to believe.

That is reassuring. Imagine if the war on terrorism had never been launched, imagine the rolling terrorism attacks throughout the globe.

[Hatteras]

I don't think the destination was as much a factor as the departure site as we saw on September 11th.