Irish surgeon held over gun in plane luggage

An Irish surgeon was arrested at Cairo airport today after security officers allegedly found a pistol and 17 bullets in his hand luggage, airport security officials said.

Waheed Mikhael, 61, an Irish citizen of Egyptian origin who works as a plastic surgeon in Ireland, was arrested before boarding an Air France flight bound for Paris, the officials said.

Mikhael was said to have told police the pistol had belonged to his late father since 1937 and he was keeping it as a souvenir.

Police added that Mikhael said he was unaware of Egyptian laws preventing the possession of such weapons.

Mikhael was held by police for further investigations, the officials said.