A tourist from Britain has caused a plane to return to the terminal in Bali just minutes before take-off after he attempted to take a toy bomb on board.
The man had told officials at Ngurah Rai International on the Indonesian island that he had bought the item, which looks like a timer attached to sticks of dynamite, at a toy store and wanted to take it home for a New Year’s Eve party.
But they told him he was not allowed to take the toy on the Qatar airlines flight to Doha, so left the item behind before checking in as normal.
However, when the airport general manager found out, he ordered the man to be questioned further, and as his flight had already taxied towards the runaway, it had to return to the terminal and he was escorted off the plane.
According to the Telegraph, the man is Davide Fogli, 48, a graphic designer, who was born in Turin but holds a British passport.
He was taken into custody and questioned and officers were even sent to the toy shop to check there were similar items on sale.
After more than 24 hours Mr Fogli and his travel companion were eventually cleared and free to go on their way.
Police chief Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan told the newspaper: ‘We are releasing them now.
‘We have found no indication of suspicious reasons, he just bought a toy. But since airport authority filed a report, we had to do a follow up.’
Officials at the airport are on high alert for possible terror attacks against Western and Russian tourists.
Read More: British tourist removed from plane in Bali after ‘turning up for flight with toy bomb’
