NO explosives were found after a suspicious device was examined by an Explosives Ordnance Disposal team at Shannon Airport on Monday evening.
An adapted phone in the hand luggage of a Bangladeshi man who was on a Kuwait-New York flight aroused suspicion at Shannon’s US pre-clearance facility around 4pm.
The suspect phone was then subject to a chemical examination, which is used to test for certain chemicals. It tested positive, but such a result can also be returned if an object has been exposed to certain substances, not linked to explosives.
Following the test the smoking areas at Shannon were evacuated for a short period of time and the device was brought to a safe location outside the airport.
Gardai summoned the Explosives Ordnance Disposal team from Cork and following further examination they determined that there were no explosives present.
The owner of the phone, who is in his mid 50s, is understood to have been very co-operative with the Gardai. While he missed the flight from Shannon to New York he is understood to be travelling onwards either today or tomorrow.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.