Army officer charged with setting off hoax grenade at Edinburgh Airport | UK News

A senior army officer has been charged after he allegedly carried a decommissioned hand grenade through Scotland’s busiest airport.

Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Clarke is accused of carrying a defused explosive device through security, prompting a bomb disposal team to be called to Edinburgh Airport.

The grenade, a dummy used in training, was deemed “non-viable and did not pose a threat” after the alleged incident in October.

“Police were called by Edinburgh Airport security at around 8.05am on Wednesday 16 October after a scan of a passenger’s carry-on baggage revealed a decommissioned ammunition device,” a Police Scotland spokesman said.

“An explosive ordnance disposal team was present and the site was determined to be non-viable and did not pose any threat.

“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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Officers charged Clark in connection with the incident, but Police Scotland did not say what the offense was.

He was released from custody and will appear in court at a later date.

“A service member was involved in a security incident at Edinburgh Airport on October 16,” an army spokesman said.

“As this matter is the subject of ongoing litigation, we will not be commenting further.”

According to government regulations, imitation explosive devices, including replicas or models of weapons, as well as mines, grenades and other explosive military items, cannot be carried on airplanes either in hand luggage or in the hold.