EL man held after ‘joking’ about weapons at airport

A MAN who allegedly claimed he was carrying a consignment of dangerous weapons at the East London Airport was arrested yesterday afternoon.

The 31-year-old East Londoner, who cannot be named because he has not yet appeared in court, made the “joke” to checkpoint security staff just after 5pm.

Police said the man was due to board a Kulula flight to Johannesburg with his mother and two young children when he was arrested.

East London police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais said: “He told airport staff that he was carrying several dangerous weapons.

“When he realised the gravity of his actions he told security that he had been joking. However, we have arrested and detained him because he violated the Aviation Safety Act.”

Marais said police had reiterated in the past that they would act against anyone who posed a threat to public safety.

“We have warned people so many times and we don’t know why such things keep on happening,” he said. “We are wasting a lot of resources on these pranks.”

Marais said the suspect would appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court this morning where he would face charges relating to the contravention of the Civil Aviation Act.

The latest arrest brings to six the number of arrests at the airport since March.

Last Thursday a man was arrested after he allegedly told airport staff that he was carrying a bomb.

In March, a 27-year-old Stirling woman spent a weekend behind bars after making a similar threat.

A week earlier, a 30-year-old had threatened to detonate a bomb at the airport.

Another man was arrested in August after saying he was in possession of explosives.

Two weeks ago a woman headed to Pretoria was arrested after claiming she was carrying an explosive device.

All the cases are still pending before the East London court. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za