Ryanair terror threat: Two men released without charge after phone found in bathroom
‘Suspicious object’ in toilet of passenger jet found to be mobile phone
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Two men arrested on suspicion of terror offences after RAF fighter jets were forced to intercept a Ryanair flight into the UK have been released without charge.
A 34-year-old from Kuwait and a 48-year-old from Italy were detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act after they landed at London Stansted Airport from Vienna amid reports of a “suspicious object” left in the toilet.
Typhoon fighters from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire were scrambled to escort the passenger aircraft into the airport in Essex on Sunday night.
However, the object in the bathroom was later found to be a mobile phone.
Detective Superintendent Andy Waldie, the head of the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit’s counter terrorism policing unit, said on Monday: “We understandably take any reports of suspicious objects or behaviour on flights very seriously and thankfully on this occasion there was no cause for concern.
“I’d like to thank those on the flight for their cooperation and understanding while officers conducted their inquiries.”
The force said neither of the two men was considered to have committed any offence.