1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Press freedomIsrael-Hamas warRussia's war in Ukraine

Bomb threat?

January 9, 2010

Three men were arrested on a plane at London's Heathrow airport, just as it was about to take off for Dubai, on suspicion of making a bomb threat.

https://p.dw.com/p/LPDE
British police officer
Armed officers stormed the jet after being informed of the threatImage: AP

Armed police stormed the Emirates passenger jet after a "verbal threat" was made to staff late on Friday, January 8.

The three men, aged 58, 48 and 36, were arrested and remain in police custody. A search of the plane, which had 331 passengers on board, found no harmful substances. Local media reported that the three men were English and appeared to be drunk.

The security scare comes after heightened security at airports worldwide with regard to an alleged attempt by a 23-year-old Nigerian man to bomb a passenger jet on its way to Detroit from Amsterdam on December 25.

Heathrow airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs, remained open despite the incident. The airport is expected to be one of the first to receive full body scanners before the end of January.

mk/AFP/dpa

Editor: Toma Tasovac

Skip next section Explore more

Explore more

Europe agonizes over full body scanners at airports

The call for full body scanners came after a Nigerian man allegedly tried to blow up a US-bound plane. The decision rests with EU member states, several of whom question the need for tighter airport security (08.01.2010)
January 8, 2010
Passengers stand in a line at Frankfurt airport

Body scanners likely to be introduced at German airports in 2010

Body scanners likely to be introduced at German airports in 2010

Officials in Germany say the country may test and deploy a new generation of body scanners at airports this year despite concerns that the devices violate passengers' privacy. (04.01.2010)
January 4, 2010
Detroit Metropolitan Airport

Abdulmutallab's father warned US of his "extreme views"

Abdulmutallab's father warned US of his "extreme views"

The father of 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man charged with attempting to bomb a US passenger plane, previously warned US and Nigerian authorities of his son's extremist views. (27.12.2009)
December 27, 2009