UK: Men detained by police at airport released

LONDON

Two men, who were detained by counter-terrorism police on Sunday after a plane landed in London, have been released from custody, local media reported on Monday.

British fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Ryanair flight from Vienna to London after a suspicious object was found in the toilet – which turned out to be a mobile phone.

The two men were a 34-year-old Kuwaiti and a 48-year-old Italian; they were detained on Sunday evening under the Terrorism Act at Stansted Airport.

They have now been released after they were found to have committed no offence.

Detective Superintendent Andy Waldie, head of Eastern Region Special Operations Unit’s counter terrorism policing unit, said: “We understandably take any reports of suspicious objects or behaviour on flights very seriously and thankfully on this occasion there was no cause for concern.

“I'd like to thank those on the flight for their cooperation and understanding while officers conducted their enquiries.”

The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit carried out the investigation and confirmed that the device was a mobile phone.

Ryanair said in a statement yesterday: “The crew of a Ryanair flight from Vienna to London Stansted this evening [Sunday] were alerted of a potential security threat on board.

“In line with procedures, the captain informed UK authorities and continued to London Stansted, where the aircraft landed normally and taxied to a remote stand where passengers disembarked safely.

“Passengers in London Stansted waiting to depart to Vienna were transferred to a spare aircraft to minimise the delay to their flight.”