Kuwait’s international airport went on red alert at dawn Saturday and shut its airspace for nearly two hours after three bags containing books on how to make a bomb were found in the lounge.
Five flights were delayed while other flights were diverted to secure terminals after security men stumbled across three suspected bags at the airport’s main hall, the Kuwaiti daily 'Al Anba' said.
An airport security man who had suspected a hand bag left unattended near gate 3 just after 3am on Saturday spent some time enquiring about its owner but no one came and claimed it.
“There was a big surprise when security men discovered that the bag contains a booklet on how to make a bomb….after searching the departure lounge, two other unattended bags were found,” the Arabic language newspaper said, quoting airport officials.It said the airport was shut off to incoming flights for nearly two hours while five departing flights were delayed. Aircraft which had already arrived were diverted to safer runways.
“An explosives team was called in to check the bags…it later turned out that some trainees from other Gulf countries could have forgotten their bags at the lounge,” the paper said, adding that police were still investigating the incident after the airport was reopened.ends