Man Held At Heathrow

Sky news:

Police are questioning a Sudanese man arrested at Heathrow airport in possession of suspected ammunition.

Airport operator BAA said security processes had detected the man, who had flown in from Washington DC and was intending to fly on to Dubai.

It follows America’s insistence that armed sky marshals should travel on some US-bound planes after security concerns over the festive period.

The man was arrested under the Firearms Act and not under anti-terror laws.

Police sources said he was not a known terrorist suspect.

Virgin Atlantic confirmed the man was a 45-year-old passenger on its Washington to London VS022 flight.

In a statement, the airline said: “The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is Virgin Atlantic’s top priority.

“The item seized did not pose a threat to our aircraft. Screening of passengers at Washington Dulles airport is the responsibility of the Transportation Security Administration.”

The US request that air marshals should travel on some flights was followed by repeated disruption to BA’s London to Washington BA223 flight.

The British airline pilot’s union Balpa, which opposes the air marshals scheme, said the arrest proved that security on the ground was what was most needed.

A spokesman said: “Obviously there will be a lot of questions asked in America as to how he got on the plane undetected.”