Maltese man detained in Britain over train bomb hoax

A 25 year-old unidentified Maltese national has been arrested and taken off an express train by UK police and later released on bail, over an alleged bomb hoax.

28 January 2012, 12:00am
by Karl Stagno-Navarra

1 min read

A Maltese man has been arrested in Britain over an alleged bomb hoax on a train to London's Victoria Station

Armed officers from the Hampshire Constabulary and British Transport Police said that they arrested the 25 year-old Maltese man, after they boarded the Southampton Central-to-London Victoria train at Havant.

The incident happened on Thursday, but news was revealed only this morning.

According to a police statement, the man was arrested after passengers allegedly heard the man talking about a bomb.

Officers evacuated the station at Havant at 5.30pm on Thursday, before the train's arrival.

They stopped and searched the train, but no devices were found.

The Maltese national was arrested on suspicion of communicating a bomb hoax and for public order offences.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire Constabulary said: "a containment was put around the train and platform, whilst officers boarded the train with colleagues from British Transport Police and arrested the man. Following a search, we can confirm he was not in possession of explosives. He was taken into custody and the scene made safe."

The man has been bailed and is due to return to Southampton police station on Saturday, March 24.