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.

[Erasmus]

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

"Those responsible for sacking the airport gift shop cashier who sold them the knives, have been sacked".......

[Shermy]

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

Not much follow up in the Brit press, but I think the perps court hearing is 9/10 - so you might want to scan reports tomorrow for new info.

I'm still unclear what "weapons" they had. Are they terrorists? Gangsters?

[cajungirl]

LOL,,maybe hillary was with the pack and they just thought she was a guy!

[swarthyguy]

Oslo? Hmmm....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/978366/posts

Norwegian Women become Sexual Predators.

[Terridan]

Anyone think that it is strange they even tried it or are they confident that because they shouldn't be racially profiled they could get away with it? I am glad the airline wasn't American or TWA.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Paraphrasing Sean Connery in the Untouchables:

"Just like [an Islamofascist]...bringin' a knife to a gun fight."

[Terridan]

"The finds come amid heightened security fears as the second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks approaches."

That is what bothers me the most... airlines being complacent except for "anniversaries"... Jesus, get over profiling already and search them all every time!

[freeperfromnj]

Everything's OK, Mohammed and Abdul were just stupid - nothing to see here.

Like all the other similar stories, this one will disappear into thin air as well.

[jerseygirl]

Trying to hold back tears, (reading your post from public location.) Hilarious!

[taxcontrol]

One of the truly classic lines of the movie!!!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

AP now describing them as "of Eastern background."

Eastern, eh? Not surprising. Did they specify either Vermont or Massachusetts?

[areafiftyone]

On their way to Oslo??? HMMMM, I wonder if they were viking kittens? They carry lethal weapons.

[tracer]

Run away!!!!

[Peach]

I don't have answers regarding that Dover incident because we've seen very little posted here in the British press, if indeed THEY are reporting on it at all.

Wish MadIvan was around.

The reports initially suggested that Army bomb squad was on the scene because of suspicious weapons or possibly bombs. If those weapons turned out to be just guns, I don't understand why the x-ray couldn't see that clearly enough for the initial reports to be more clear or why the bomb squad was called out.

I have more questions than answers.

[js1138]

This really sucks. I carry a keychain Swiss Army knife wherever I go. I can't get through a day without using it for something.

[shaggy eel]

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

,,, so they were from Northern Ireland? Plenty of terrorists from there.

[bulldogs]

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


HAHAAAA!!!!!!!!!Why is it every time I go into 7-11 I feel I am contributing to the Mohammadians!

[SkyPilot]

Wish MadIvan was around.

Peach--what happened to Ivan? Has be been banned? I sure miss him.

[Peach]

I heard he took another job and posted he wouldn't be freeping for a while. But that was several months ago.

[Eroteme]

The following article confirms that at least 5 of the 6 were Muslim--the five Norwegians traveling together. The British national was only identified as being from southeast London. Big place, I know, but I note in passing that Richard Reid and Zacharias Moussaoui spent some time together there at the same mosque.

The arrested men have been released, but not to worry--
authorities scolded them. Although the article does not elaborate, I suspect there may have even been furrowed brows and wagging figgers involved.

_________________

http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/news/NewsStory.asp?Brand=EADOnline&Category=News&ItemId=IPED09+Sep+2003+21%3A32%3A18%3A287

Knife duo freed after airport alert


September 10, 2003 05:32

A MAN was cautioned and another given "words of advice" following an incident on a passenger plane at Stansted Airport, police said.

Two men carrying knives in their hand luggage were stopped from boarding a Ryanair flight to Oslo, Norway, shortly before 7am yesterday.

Police said the men were questioned on suspicion of committing offences under the Criminal Justice Act following the incident.

"One man has this afternoon been cautioned in connection with offences under the Criminal Justice Act following two separate incidents at Stansted airport earlier today," said the spokesman.

"Another man has been given suitable word of advice by police."

Sources said there was no suggestion of any concerted attempt at a terrorist attack.

The spokesman added: "The incident occurred shortly before 7am as passengers were boarding a Ryanair flight to Norway.

"Two men who were not travelling together and were separate from each other were each found to be in possession of a small knife. They were detained and arrested by police."

The spokesman said a 34-year-old British man from south-east London and a 43-year-old Norwegian man were arrested.

He said the Briton was travelling alone.

The Norwegian was a Muslim who was travelling with four other Norwegian Muslims, added the spokesman.

They were returning to Oslo after a short stay in Britain.

The spokesman added: "The two arrested men have now been dealt with.

"The man from London was cautioned for possession of a bladed article contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

"These two men along with the other four men have now been allowed to continue with their journeys to Norway."

The spokesman added: "We had to carry out several long drawn out inquiries, not least because we were dealing with five foreign nationals, so numerous avenues had to be explored and looked at.

"We had to make contact with our colleagues and other agencies in Norway whilst also ensuring that there was no confusion in the translation of the information that was being conveyed.

"Police deal with several incidents each day involving passengers carrying offensive weapons in their luggage.

"But today's events were slightly unusual purely in the fact that it is extremely unusual to find two passengers boarding the same flight who happen to be carrying offensive weapons.

"If anything, today's events reassure people that stringent security measures are in place at Stansted airport to ensure both passenger and air cabin crew safety."

The incident came at a time when security fears are heightened because the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York will be marked on Thursday.

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