An IndiGo flight from Mangalore to Dubai was delayed on Tuesday following a major security scare when a suspicious "clay-like" item was detected by airport scanners
A cellphone 'bomb' has been discovered hidden inside a mobile phone by staff screening baggage in an X-ray machine at Mangalore Airport in India.
An IndiGo flight from Mangalore to Dubai was delayed this afternoon when a suspicious "clay-like" item was detected by airport scanners.
The discovery sparked a major security scare as Indian media reported a 26-year-old man travelling to Dubai had been arrested after police were called.
Early reports suggested there was confusion as to whether the device was viable or fake. Sniffer dogs reportedly gave a "mixed signal" if the item was explosive or whether it contained a chemical used to launch a possible gas attack.
Indian media reported a "suspicious clay-like object" was found in the Dubai-bound passenger's mobile phone which was located in his check-in baggage.
The X-ray machine detected the bomb hidden in a mobile phone (Image: ANI/Twitter)
But later it was identified as a disguise for a hand-made power pack.
Mangaluru Police Commissioner TS Suresh said: "It was a self-made power bank and after through check it was allowed to proceed," according to
Times Now News.
A photograph shows red and yellow electrical wires attached to a small silver object similar to a battery pack with a brown-coloured material keeping items in place.
One theory to emerge is that this was a 'dry run' by a 'terrorist sales rep' or arms dealer who was attempting to show customers how 'easy' it was to get the device onto a plane through security - but failed.
Follow
TIMES NOW
✔@TimesNow
#BREAKING | Mangaluru man travelling to Dubai via IndiGo airlines allegedly attempted to plant IED, detained
#TerrorDryRun
2:07 AM - Sep 20, 2017
Twitter Ads info and privacy
Airline IndiGo tweeted: "IndiGo's alert security screener staff at Mangalore caught a suspect carrying alleged cellphone bomb today.
"The matter has been reported to the local police. Since it is a sensitive security matter we have nothing more to share."
Mangalore airport (Image: Hindustan Times)
India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) chief Rajesh Kumar Chandra reportedly ordered the object to be investigated.
17h
Raj Kumar Jha @rajpadma
Cellphone Bomb found at Mangalore Airport. The Indigo flight was from Mangalore to Bangalore.
Follow
IndiGo
✔@IndiGo6E
IndiGo's alert security screener staff at Mangalore caught a suspect carrying alleged cellphone bomb today. The matter has 1/n
2:21 AM - Sep 20, 2017
Twitter Ads info and privacy
17h
Raj Kumar Jha @rajpadma
Cellphone Bomb found at Mangalore Airport. The Indigo flight was from Mangalore to Bangalore.
Follow
IndiGo
✔@IndiGo6E
been reported to the local police. Since it is a sensitive security matter we have nothing more to share. IndiGo is 2/n
2:22 AM - Sep 20, 2017
Twitter Ads info and privacy
17h
Raj Kumar Jha @rajpadma
Cellphone Bomb found at Mangalore Airport. The Indigo flight was from Mangalore to Bangalore.
Follow
IndiGo
✔@IndiGo6E
committed to providing the highest levels of safety and security for its passengers at all times. 3/3
2:22 AM - Sep 20, 2017
Twitter Ads info and privacy
The Times of India quoted a senior aviation official who said: "The passenger, M Mohammed, was booked on IndiGo's flight 6E 877 from Mangalore to Bangalore at 10pm on Tuesday and then he was to travel from Bangalore to Dubai on IndiGo flight 6E 95 Wednesday at 7.20am.
"While screening his checked in baggage at Mangalore, the screener noticed that a power bank was in his bag which looked suspicious (as it showed a green coloured thick image).
Mangalore Airport operates domestic and international flights (Image: Google)
"(The screener) did a physical check and opened the power bank to check and noticed a clay like substance in the power bank."
Times Now News reported the device was later identified as a "fake improvised explosive device".
Follow
Arvind Gunasekar @arvindgunasekar
A 26 year old from Mangalore travelling to Dubai in Indigo flight arrested with an alleged 'cell phone bomb': Reports
2:24 AM - Sep 20, 2017
Twitter Ads info and privacy
IndiGo is a low-cost carrier which is the largest in India in terms of passenger numbers.
A map showing Mangalore (Image: Google)
The airline flies to 46 domestic and international destinations and its main base is at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
Mangalore airport operates dozens of flights to domestic and major Middle Eastern cities every day with Doha, Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain among its most popular routes.
Mangalore Airport is one of two international hubs in the Indian state of Karnataka.
The airport operates flights to Dubai, Doha and other major Middle Eastern cities (Image: Twitter)
It opened on Christmas Day in 1951 and was granted international status in October 2012 - six years after the first overseas flights to Dubai.
In January last year, it was announced the Airports Authority of India had provided 17,000 sq ft of space at an old terminal building to the Indian Coast Guard as headquarters for its air operations.
The Foreign Office warns of terror plots in India especially public places "visited by foreigners".
It reads: "Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in India.
"Recent attacks have targeted public places including those visited by foreigners.
"There have been recent media reports suggesting Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL) interest in attacking targets in India.
"There may be an increased threat to places visited by British nationals such as religious sites, markets, festival venues and beaches."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/cellphone-bomb-mangalore-airport-india-11202489
