Relatives support 'hijack' accused

Relatives of a man suspected by Swedish police of planning to hijack a Ryanair airliner were confident that evidence would show he was innocent as lawyers prepared for a hearing today to determine if he should remain in custody.

Police have said they are in contact with foreign authorities and are looking for links between terror groups and Kerim Chatty, who was arrested on Thursday with a gun in his hand luggage at an airport in the central city of Vaesteraas as he headed to an Islamic conference in Birmingham.

Chatty, who has previous assault and theft convictions, faces possible charges of planning to hijack a plane and illegal possession of a firearm.

Chatty’s father is from Tunisia and mother is from Sweden. He converted to Islam a few years ago, his lawyer said.

Police revealed few other details as prosecutors prepared for a court hearing today to determine if there is enough evidence for the suspect to be held as the investigation continues.

Defence lawyer Hans Uggla, who met with Chatty yesterday for the first time since the arrest, said his client has an explanation for why he had the gun in his toiletries bag as he boarded a Ryanair flight to London.

“He thinks that the police and the prosecutors will believe him,” Uggla said outside the police headquarters complex where Chatty is being held in Vaesteraas, 60 miles northwest of the capital, Stockholm.

Uggla said he could not elaborate because of a gagging order.

Chatty’s parents and his sister said he opposed violence and they were confident that he had a reason for carrying the gun that had nothing to do with hijacking plans.

“The investigations will finally show that he’s innocent,” his father, Sarok, said before slamming the door closed at his apartment in a small town midway between Vaesteraas and Stockholm.

The FBI on Saturday visited a South Carolina flight school that Chatty briefly attended, said the school’s director, Robert Sunday.

Chatty was accepted into the school in Conway, South Carolina, in September 1996 but flunked out a few months later, Sunday said.

At least three of the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks attended or visited flight schools in the United States.

Sarah Chatty remembered how excited her brother was about going to the school and said he had a good time and made lots of friends.

“It was just a hobby,” the 19-year-old physical fitness student said of her brother’s studies at a flight school in South Carolina. “Like I want to dance, he wanted to fly.”

She has not spoken to her brother since the arrest but insisted the gun “had nothing to do with terrorism.”

“I know it has to be a misunderstanding,” she said. “He would never hurt anyone.”

Uggla said converted to Islam “three or four years ago” - after attending flight school.

Police spokesman Ulf Palm said investigators were in contact with “foreign authorities.” He declined to give more details or comment further about a possible motive.

“We hope to reveal more information during next week,” Palm said. “Now the investigation is in a hectic stage.”

Margareta Linderoth, the director of the national security police, has said that officials were looking for any links between Chatty and terrorist groups. But she said that was not the only line of investigation.

Several passengers already aboard the aircraft were evacuated after the gun was found on Thursday.

Police searched the cabin and luggage compartment and the plane took off several hours late without the suspect and other Muslims with whom police initially believed he was travelling. The others were released after questioning.