Pensioner fined over terrorist comments at Aberdeen Airport
20.05.06
A retired teacher sparked a major alert at Aberdeen airport this week, when he told staff he was a terrorist and had knives in his luggage, a court heard yesterday.
Ole Schov, 67, was arrested at the airport on Thursday while waiting for a flight home to Denmark. He initially said he had made the comments as a 'joke' but later denied making the remarks. At Aberdeen Sheriff Court he admitted causing a breach of the peace and was fined £500.
The court heard how Schov, who lives in the Danish town of Allinge, had gone to check-in for the flight to Copenhagen on Thursday morning. Fiscal depute Iain Hingston said: 'Whilst checking the accused in for the flight the standard security questions were asked, including whether he had anything sharp in his carry-on luggage. He replied: "I am a terrorist, I have knives."'
Mr Hingston said this was heard by a number of staff. 'These individuals stated, unsurprisingly, that they were concerned by that information and a supervisor was called. The police attended, a search of the airport was commenced and the accused was found within the departure lounge.'
Mr Hingston said that when detained, Schov said: 'I am sorry, it was a joke.' But when charged, he said: 'No I did not, never.'
Defence agent Jim Duncan said his client, who is a frequent visitor to Scotland, accepted he had made the comments. 'He never thought for one moment his comments would be taken seriously He is utterly ashamed of himself and regrets his conduct in respect of this matter,' he said.
Fining Schov, Sheriff Alexander Jessop told him: 'You may have thought it was in a light-hearted manner and something that was not to be taken seriously, but any incident such as this in the present climate causes great alarm to staff. I accept you are showing remorse for what you did but it does cause alarm to staff and people wanting to go on the plane.'
To book hotel aberdeen airport or aberdeen airport car parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great aberdeen airport parking and aberdeen airport hotel price comparison websites.
