A plane packed with tourists departing the holiday island of Bali was forced to return to the terminal because a British passenger had wanted to bring a toy bomb on-board, Indonesian officials said.
The Briton was questioned for a day by airport security officials and police on the island, which is on high alert for possible Islamic terrorist attacks on Western and Russian tourists.
The Qatar Airways flight had to be recalled as it was preparing for take-off in order for Mr Fogli to be questioned Photo: Keith Larby / Alamy Stock Photo
The man, identified by local authorities as Davide Fogli, told officials that he bought the item – featuring a timer attached to what looked like sticks of dynamite – at a toy store. He reportedly intended to take it to a New Year’s Eve party.
He declared the toy bomb to the first line of screening officials at the airport and asked if he could bring it on the flight, according to police.
The officials told him that the item was not allowed on-board so he left it at the security point and proceeded to check-in as normal with a female companion.
But when the report reached Trikora Harjo, the airport general manager, he ordered that Mr Fogli should be questioned further.
“This was a very realistic toy and in the current climate, we wanted to know more about his plans,” said an official.
The Qatar Airways flight bound for Doha had already taxied on to the tarmac to prepare for take-off, before it was ordered to return to the terminal and Mr Fogli and his friend were escorted off the plane.
Mr Trikora said he took the decision to investigate further “in accordance with the instructions of the Director General of Transportation”.
The flight then left for Doha while the British tourist was questioned first by airport security officials on Sunday evening and then by police in the provincial capital Denpasar on Monday.
Officials on Bali are on high alert for possible terror plot during one of the busiest seasons for tourism. More than 200 people, mainly Australian holidaymakers, were killed in a 2002 bomb attack by Islamic extremists on a nightclub. Airport officials have stepped up security after a Russian passenger plane was blown up over the Sinai desert.
Although Bali is predominantly Hindu, Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation. Hundreds of Indonesians have travelled to Syria to fight with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) and Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliate, and there are fears that a terror cell might be sent back to Indonesia to commit atrocities.
Yusfandri Hona, head of the Denpasar airport authority: "We are now on yellow alert, since late last month.
"The passenger should have known that he wasn't supposed to bring such an item to his flight. Even though it's a toy, there's a possibility it could be used as a threat to cause problems.
"He should never have attempted to bring it with him, with current heightened security measures. We have so far his statement that it was for personal use, but we have to confirm that, we can't just take his word for it."
Officers were sent to the toy-store where they found an item for sale identical to the one that Mr Fogli was carrying.
Mr Fogli was not expected to face any charges but was subjected to the intense questioning as a precaution, officials said. According to his British passport, he is aged 48 and was born in Turin.
"We have cleared the passenger of any suspicions about the intent for why he wanted the item in his flight, other than it was a toy he bought," Mr Trikora said on Monday evening.
"Police are now completing their investigation into the case. One thing we need to make clear is that the item never made in on board the flight. We are quite proud of the fact, we managed to screen it out. All airport in Indonesia are on yellow [heightened] alert since the Paris attack."
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