Tear gas pistol and ammunition discovered at airport

A tear gas pistol and ammunition were found in a luggage, which was being loaded into the cargo hold of an Air Malta flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.

However, following routine checks carried out by the police, the owner of the luggage, a 40-year-old Israeli police officer, was cleared of any wrongdoing and was allowed to fly back home on the same flight which was delayed by more than four hours.   

The police said the discovery was made yesterday at about 11.20pm, at the Malta International Airport.

Airport security officers found the objects during a routine inspection of the baggage being loaded ontothe aircraft.

The police were called to assist in the Handling Baggage Screening Area, where a search was performed in the presence of the luggage's owner, a 40-year-old Israeli.

The search yielded a tear gas pistol and a magazine holding eleven rounds in an unlocked pocket on the outside of the luggage. A steak knife was also found in a locked compartment.

Questioned about these, the passenger, who seemed surprised by the find, denied any knowledge of the pistol and ammunition.

However, he admitted that the steak knife belonged to his sister, a passenger on the same flight.

He added that he had left his baggage in a luggage room belonging to a hotel in Saint Julian's at about noon and picked it up at 9.30 p.m. and suspected that the objects were planted in his luggage.  

The passenger was taken to Police General Headquarters for further investigations while the flight's passengers and luggage were re-screened.

Further investigations together with Israeli Authorities found that the suspect was a trustworthy police officer who had just ended a five-day holiday with his family. It was also confirmed that the hotel's luggage room was accessible to anyone.

Following discussions with the Israeli Authorities, the passenger was escorted back to the airport, where he boarded the same flight to his home country, which was delayed by more than four hours and left at 4.50am. after the plane, its passengers and luggage were once again inspected and any danger ruled out. The plan arrived in Tel Aviv at 7.28am without further problems.

An inspection of the objects, which were remanded in police custody, confirmed that the pistol was used to fire tear gas and was not compatible with the magazine found.

The Maltese and Israeli Authorities are jointly investigating the case.

The plane's passengers were never in any danger since the luggage containing the objects was being loaded into the aircraft's cargo hold.