Accessibility links

Breaking News

Two Charged After Heathrow Bomb Threat


British police have charged two men following an alleged bomb hoax on a jet at London's Heathrow airport.
British police have charged two men following an alleged bomb hoax on a jet at London's Heathrow airport.

LONDON (Reuters) -- British police have charged a man over a bomb hoax that prevented a Dubai-bound Emirates airliner from taking off from London's Heathrow airport.


Police had arrested three men over the incident on the night of January 8.


Robert Fowles, 58, was charged with making a bomb hoax and being drunk on an aircraft. Alexander McGinn, 48, was also charged with being drunk. The third man was released.


Security searches found no threat to the plane.


Airports around the world have been on high alert since a failed bombing attempt on a Detroit-bound plane last month. Britain has announced tighter security measures, with plans to use full body scanners at Heathrow within three weeks.

Witnesses told Sky Television that armed police with sniffer dogs boarded flight EK004 and swiftly arrested the men after the crew reported the incident.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG