Suitcase bomb was bound for Germany

A SUSPECTED bomb in a suitcase that was to be put on a German-bound plane was intercepted in Namibia, German police said yesterday, a day after Berlin issued an alert on a tip about an imminent attack.

The BKA federal police force said the suspicious baggage had been seized on Wednesday at the international airport in Windhoek before it was due to be loaded on to an LTU/Air Berlin flight to the southern German city of Munich.

“A subsequent X-ray (of the luggage) revealed batteries that were attached with wires to a detonator and a ticking clock,” it said in a statement.

“Only the ongoing forensic investigation will show whether this was a live explosive.”

Passengers on the flight, as well as all luggage in the hold and the aircraft itself, underwent subsequent checks before the Airbus plane was given clearance to take off. It arrived safely in Munich overnight.

A spokeswoman for Air Berlin said the baggage had not been checked in.

“It is an unlabelled piece of luggage, which means that its destination was not indicated nor was the airline with which it was to fly.

“In other words it was an unattended piece of luggage in the hall at Windhoek airport where luggage is processed,” she said.

“It is possible that it only happened to be there at the time the Air Berlin plane was to be loaded.”

The plane had 296 passengers and 10 crew members on board and was delayed by six hours, she said.

The German government hiked security measures at rail stations, airports and other public spaces on Wednesday following a tip-off from a “foreign partner” about an attack planned this month.

“Since the middle of 2010, the security services have noticed increased indications that the terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda has been planning attacks in the United States, in Europe and in Germany,” Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said.

Citing security sources, the Tagesspiegel daily reported the US had told Berlin that between two and four al-Qaeda operatives were on their way to Germany and Britain to attempt attacks.