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An angry Twitter user who joked about blowing up Robin Hood Airport has been arrested under anti-terrorism laws.
Paul Chambers was due to fly to Ireland from the Doncaster site, but faced a flurry of delays after cold weather brought the airport to a standstill. Angry, he logged into the Twitter website, and posted:
“The airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your s**t together; otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!”
Police were unimpressed, and Mr. Chambers was later arrested for conspiring to create a bomb hoax. He was questioned for seven hours, and forced to explain the Twitter concept to officers who had “never heard of it.”
Mr. Chambers has since been released on bail, but he could still be found guilty of transmitting a bomb threat when the case goes to court in February. The ‘bomber’ has also had his iPhone, laptop, and desktop computer confiscated.
Airport security operates on a hair trigger, and all threats are taken very seriously, however preposterous or unlikely they may seem. On the 9th January, three men were also arrested at Heathrow for shouting bomb threats at attendants.
Mr. Chambers has not been banned from Robin Hood Airport, despite the murmurings of the popular press, but bosses were keen to express their continued support of anti-terrorism laws, and of recent police action.
Just this morning, a police inspector helped subdue two men on a flight from Bulgaria to Robin Hood Airport, after their drunken tirades became frightening to other passengers.
Comments - 2
1. Bill Miller
15th Oct 2010 - 01:35 PM
He made a joke to friends, no one ever believed he was making a threat, including Robin Hood Airport, but you did absolutely nothing to step in an stop this appalling abuse of the justice system.
It has cost him dear, including his job. He will be found not guilty in the end.
Your "hair trigger" "however preposterous or unlikely" argument is an unrealistic rationalisation. It is a description of a procedural application of bad judgement. I can identify to you many equally preposterous risks that you are ignoring, just as you operationally ignored this one. Blowing up Robin Hood airport is now a twitter joke repeated many times a day. Why no more prosecutions? If the first was justified then the others should also be prosecuted.
You have let down your customer so very badly.
Over the last 10 years I have averaged over 53 flights a year and I live in the Midlands but will never use your airport. If you get this so wrong what else are you failing at?
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2. Tom Sullivan
23rd Dec 2010 - 11:34 AM
Ein Reich, Ein Volke, Ein Führer
What ever happened to proof of intent under what has become a totalitarian regime in all but name?
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