Man who raised false alarm about bomb at Manas Airport held in Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK. Nov 1 (Interfax) - The caller who raised a false alarm about a bomb at Manas Airport in Kyrgyzstan is a Bishkek resident who did not want his wife to fly to Moscow on business.
Kyrgyz law enforcement officers have arrested a Bishkek man on suspicion of making a false call about a bomb planted at the International Manas Airport, a spokesperson for the Kyrgyz State National Security Committee told Interfax on Tuesday.
The man, born 1986, was identified and apprehended during search operations conducted jointly with the Interior Ministry, the spokesperson said.
"It was established that the suspect, while in a state of alcohol intoxication, made a false call to stop his wife boarding a Bishkek-Moscow flight on business," the spokesperson said.
The Kyrgyz State National Security Committee has launched a criminal inquiry into the incident, he said.
It was reported that at 4:15 p.m. on October 31 an on-duty police officer received an anonymous call about an explosive device planted at an aircraft at Manas Airport.
The alert led to the evacuation of all people at the airport and flight check-ins and several departures, including the Moscow flight, being suspended. An inspection of the aircraft and the adjacent area revealed no explosive device. The airport re-opened on the evening of October 31 and is operating normally.