A soldier who allegedly carried a hand grenade as he attempted to go through security at a major British airport has been arrested and charged.
Lt Col Hugo Clark is reported to have had a fake weapon in his hand luggage while going through Edinburgh Airport on October 16.
The 54-year-old previously served in Afghanistan and received an MBE in 2006.
Bomb squad officers reportedly rushed to the scene after the discovery was made when the soldier was due to travel home on leave.
A source said: "All the grenade's explosives had been removed so it could safely be used in training. But to the untrained eye it looked exactly the same as a real grenade.
"Imagine if a terrorist had taken it out in mid-air and waved it around in front of passengers - it could have caused absolute mayhem."
A spokesman from Police Scotland added: "Around 8.05am on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, police were called by security at Edinburgh Airport after a decommissioned ordnance device was found during scanning of a passenger's hand luggage.
"Explosive Ordnance Disposal attended and the item was assessed as non-viable and posed no threat. A 54-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date."
A British Army spokesman also said: "A Service Person was involved in a security incident at Edinburgh Airport on October 16.
"As the matter is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings we won't comment further."
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Lt Col Hugo Clark is reported to have had a fake weapon in his hand luggage while going through Edinburgh Airport on October 16.
The 54-year-old previously served in Afghanistan and received an MBE in 2006.
Bomb squad officers reportedly rushed to the scene after the discovery was made when the soldier was due to travel home on leave.
A source said: "All the grenade's explosives had been removed so it could safely be used in training. But to the untrained eye it looked exactly the same as a real grenade.
"Imagine if a terrorist had taken it out in mid-air and waved it around in front of passengers - it could have caused absolute mayhem."
A spokesman from Police Scotland added: "Around 8.05am on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, police were called by security at Edinburgh Airport after a decommissioned ordnance device was found during scanning of a passenger's hand luggage.
"Explosive Ordnance Disposal attended and the item was assessed as non-viable and posed no threat. A 54-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date."
A British Army spokesman also said: "A Service Person was involved in a security incident at Edinburgh Airport on October 16.
"As the matter is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings we won't comment further."
Find Out More...