British Army officer charged after bomb scare over airport hand grenade

A senior Army officer who allegedly tried to take a hand grenade through airport security has been charged.

Lt Col Hugo Clark is accused of attempting to bring the deactivated explosive through Scotland’s busiest airport in his hand luggage.

Bomb squad officers raced to the scene after the grenade was found in security scans of a passenger’s carry-on bag.

The item, a dummy grenade used in training according to reports, was assessed as ‘non-viable and posed no threat’.

Lt Col Clark, 54, who works as the head of engagement and outreach at the army’s headquarters in Scotland, was arrested and charged and is due to appear in court at a later date.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: ‘Around 8.05am on Wednesday October 16, 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 spokesperson for the Army 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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