Smuggled firearm on Ryanair flight

Police in Blackpool arrested a man coming off a Ryanair flight from the northwest Spanish city, Girona upon his arrival in the United Kingdom. Blackpool authorities acted on an anonymous tip that told the man in question was in possession of a handgun in his checked baggage.

Police apprehended the 39-year old man Friday afternoon at Blackpool Airport and his luggage was searched. A Lancashire police spokesman commented on the findings: ‘A blank firing firearm and ammunition was recovered from baggage which had been in the hold. The man has been questioned by officers and released on police bail pending further enquiries. At this stage officers are not treating the incident as terrorist related nor do we believe the gun was intended to be passed on to anyone else.’

Due to the fact that the gun was meant to fire blank rounds, police said they did not expect the man to be involved with any malicious activity nor did they think the gun was meant to be given to another person. The Irish airline said they are co-operating fully with police and their investigation.

www.ryanair.com