Senior army officer arrested after carrying hand grenade through Edinburgh Airport security

A senior army officer has been arrested after carrying a hand grenade through airport security.

Incompetent Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Clarke MBE carried a dummy weapon in his carry-on luggage as he traveled through Edinburgh Airport.

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Bomb squad officers responded to the scene and eventually found it deactivated.

Lieutenant Colonel Clarke, 54, of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, acting director of public relations, was due to fly home on leave.

He was arrested, charged and must appear in court.

A source said: “All explosives from the grenade have been removed so they can be used safely in training. But to the untrained eye, it looked exactly like a real grenade.

“Imagine if a terrorist took it out in the air and waved it in front of passengers, it could cause absolute chaos.”

The army confirmed that an employee was involved in a security incident in October, but had no further comment.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “At approximately 8:05am on Wednesday 16 October 2024, police were called by security at Edinburgh Airport after a scan of a passenger’s carry-on baggage revealed a decommissioned ammunition device.

“Explosive Ordnance Disposal was present and the site was assessed as non-viable and non-threatening.

“A 54-year-old man was arrested, charged in connection with this and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date.”

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