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May 10, 2010
Arrested for shoe batteries
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Faiz Mohammad told interrogators he came from Pakistan's northwestern province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had been scheduled to travel to Muscat by Thai Airways. -- PHOTO: AP
KARACHI - PAKISTANI officers arrested a man at Karachi airport on Sunday after batteries and an electrical circuit were found in his shoes as he tried to board a plane for the Middle East, an official said. The 30-year-old civil engineer allegedly told interrogators he came from Pakistan's northwestern province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Taleban and Islamist militants have a presence, and had been scheduled to travel to Muscat by Thai Airways. Mohammad Munir, Airport Security Force spokesman, said the bearded man, whom he named as Faiz Mohammad, was arrested when a scanner sounded an alarm. The suspect was not found in possession of explosives, but Mr Munir described the circuit discovery as 'worrying'.
'He was on the way to board flight TG 507 for Muscat. After the machine gave the alarm, we checked him manually,' said the spokesman. 'We have recovered four live batteries and a circuit, with a button to switch it on and off,' Mr Munir said. The suspect allegedly told investigators he was living in Karachi, Pakistan's southern city, but was planning to return to Muscat, where he had previously worked for a construction company, to set up his own business. 'The devices found from the suspect suggested that if he was carrying explosive material, he could have easily blown the explosives up in the plane,' said Mr Munir. -- AFP
