Staff Reporter
Free State police have arrested a 28-year-old man at Braam Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein for possession of a drill hand-grenade.
The suspect, according to a police statement, arrived at the airport and proceeded to the check-in counter where he handed over his luggage to be searched.
“The G4S (security) officer placed the passenger’s bag inside the X-ray scanner,” read part of the statement issued by the SAPS spokesperson in Mangaung, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane.
“The scanner detected the metal inside the bag and a round object was visible on the monitor. The security officer physically searched the bag and found the drill hand-grenade.”
The police say there is a clearly marked list of prohibited items at the check-in counter but the suspect did not declare he had a dangerous item in his luggage.
“The police at the airport were called to the counter. An immediate decision was taken to activate the evacuation alarm because of the possibility of a threat in the terminal building.
“The Bomb Disposal Unit were also summoned to the scene to handle the evidence and sweep the building,” said the police statement.
The building was later declared safe and operations have since returned to normal.
A case docket for possession of a hand-grenade shell and interference with airport operations was opened.
The suspect is in police custody and is expected to appear in court soon.
The incident comes just a day after the parliament building in Cape Town was razed to the ground in a mysterious fire.
A 49-year-old man was arrested and initially charged with housebreaking, theft and arson.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo says the suspect will face further charges under the National Key Point Act.
The Cape Town suspect was allegedly caught with suspected stolen property after he illegally gained entry into the parliament precinct.
He was spotted by members of the protection and security services when they noticed the building was on fire.
He is due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Tuesday.