Man held after gun found in hand luggage

A 29-year-old man was detained at a Swedish airport today after trying to carry a handgun aboard a flight to London, police said.

The suspect was a Swedish citizen of Tunisian origin and was part of a group of 20 people on their way to an Islamic conference in Birmingham, according to police in Vaesteraas, 60 miles northwest of the capital, Stockholm.

Security officers found the weapon in a toiletries bag after scanning the man’s hand luggage, police spokesman Ulf Palm said.

He said the suspect was booked on a flight from Vaesteraas to Stansted airport outside London on Ryanair.

Several passengers who had already boarded the plane were evacuated while police conducted a search of the cabin and luggage compartment, Palm said.

The people in the group heading to the Islamic conference were being questioned by investigators, he said, adding that no-one, except the 29-year-old, was under suspicion of a crime.

It wasn’t clear what type of gun he carried, or whether it was loaded and Palm said more information was not expected before Friday.

Ryanair said 189 passengers were booked on the flight, which was scheduled for takeoff at 3:55 pm. (1455 Irish time).

The flight was delayed until just before midnight (2300 BST) while police searched the aircraft with bomb-sniffing dogs. It took off for its original destination without the suspect and the group being questioned, said airport manager Mikael Nilsson.