Fury over Slovakia 'smuggling' explosive on flight
A furious Government demanded tonight that Slovakia explain itself after an unsuspecting electrician was allowed to carry explosives on a flight to Dublin in a botched security exercise.
The diplomatic row erupted after Slovak airport police randomly planted powerful RDX in the 49-year-old’s bag but took three days to warn authorities he had unwittingly evaded scanning machines.
It is understood Government officials were angry about the high level security breach and have called for answers.
A spokesman said: “The Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, has ordered a full report into what has transpired.”
Slovak authorities began the live security tests last Saturday but only contacted gardaí today to warn of the lapse.
Officers planted several items, including the RDX plastic explosive, in the luggage of eight unsuspecting passengers as they prepared to board international flights at Bratislava and Poprad Traty airports.
A Garda source said: “It seems his bag was picked randomly – he is not in any trouble with us.
“We have verified the whole thing through proper police channels and security chiefs in the Slovak authorities.”
One security source said: “If that much explosive was detonated, it would cause serious damage, it would kill if it went off in a plane – it’s an unbelievable mistake.
“It doesn’t bear thinking about to put that kind of explosive on a plane, unaccounted for.”
Seven passengers were stopped as they went through scanning machines while the electrician unwittingly evaded checks at Poprad Tatry and made it to Dublin.
He was carrying 4oz (about 90 grams) of the explosive material.
Although the explosive would have been powerful enough to down a plane, the plastic explosive on its own was considered stable and no detonators were discovered.
Airport police in Bratislava contacted their counterparts in Dublin about the high-level breach this morning and gardaí were then informed and raided an apartment in Dublin’s north inner city.
The 49-year-old man, who it is understood has been living in Ireland for a number of years, knew nothing about it. He was arrested and questioned for three hours before being released without charge.
Roads around the Dorset Street apartment complex, close to Dublin’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street, were sealed off for about an hour and a half, with five buildings evacuated as a security cordon was maintained.
The unwitting passenger who carried the explosives on the four-hour flight was travelling back to Ireland, where he has been working for three years, after a Christmas break at home.
An army bomb disposal team found the explosives still concealed in his luggage but described them as in a “stable state”.
Irish security personnel also carry out airport tests, but use security personnel, not unwitting travellers.
The Slovakian Embassy in Dublin declined to comment but Slovakian deputy prime minister Robert Kallinak has conveyed his profound regret to Mr Ahern.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it had also been contacted about the incident.
A spokeswoman said: “It is awaiting a full report in the matter and will, as necessary, pursue the matter with the authorities of the country concerned.”
Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said: “Whatever about the minister requesting a full report on the matter, steps must be taken immediately to rectify current security shortfalls.
“Given that the terrorist threat is now global and that no nation or people are immune from that threat, this security breach and the fact that the breach went undetected are serious issues of concern.”
Labour’s Joe Costello, a local TD, said: “There are a number of aspects of this extraordinary affair that require immediate clarification.”
Dublin Airport said Slovak authorities telephoned airport police today about the incident, adding that they had already sent a telex.
But a spokeswoman claimed they had not received any communication until today.
“They (Slovak authorities) said they sent it. We never received any telex,” she said.
The airport also stressed its staff were not responsible for security searches or scanning of passengers arriving into the Irish capital – similar to all other international airports.
