Was suspect planning to crash aircraft into US embassy in Europe?
Saturday, 31 August, 2002, 16:46 GMT 17:46 UK
Hijack suspect took flying lessons
Police detained the suspect after finding a gun
Swedish police are still questioning a man on suspicion of planning to hijack a plane, amid speculation that he intended to crash the aircraft into a US embassy.
He took flying lessons in the USA, but did not finish the training. It is possible that he has since obtained some sort of qualification
Margareta Linderoth, national security police chief
The chief of the national security police confirmed reports that the man had received flying lessons in the US.
However, military and police sources appeared to be at odds over the suspected hijacker's motive.
A military intelligence source told Reuters news agency: "We know for sure that the plan was to crash the plane into a US embassy in Europe."
But police chief Margareta Linderoth said: "It's false information. I deny it absolutely."
Karem Chatty: Gun found in toiletries bag
She also rejected reports that the police were looking for four other men, including an explosives expert, who might have been working with the 29-year-old suspect.
The suspected would-be hijacker was arrested at Vesteras airport 100km (60 miles) north-west of Stockholm on Thursday, after a gun was found in his hand luggage as he tried to board a flight for Stansted in the UK.
Swedish police are trying to establish whether he has any connection with extreme Muslim groups such as al-Qaeda.
The man, identified as Kerim Chatty, denied knowledge of the gun and said he was on his way to an Islamic conference in Birmingham in central England.
Previous convictions
British police - said to include anti-terrorism experts from Scotland Yard - are working closely with their Swedish counterparts on the case.
Police released the people who had been travelling with the suspect
Police spokesman Ulf Palm said the suspect had previous convictions for theft and assault.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the arrest showed "the threat of international terrorism remains".
The suspect, born in Sweden to Tunisian parents, was one of a group of about 18 adults and two children apparently bound for the Birmingham meeting.
Prosecutors in Sweden have until early next week to decide whether to bring formal charges against the man, although they can apply to hold him for longer.
Hijacking carries a sentence of between six months and life imprisonment in Sweden.
WATCH/LISTEN
ON THIS STORY
The BBC's Stephen Sackur
"The Swedish authorities are taking these events very seriously"
Airport security adviser Gunnar Harmen
"It's not difficult to find a gun when they're screening your hand luggage"
Islamic conference spokesman Abu Khadeejah
"It's quite surprising that individuals like this would have been attending our conference"
Prof Paul Rogers, Peace Studies, Bradford University
"We must remember that the al-Qaeda network is still very active"
See also:
30 Aug 02 | Europe
Swedish airport security praised
30 Aug 02 | England
Hijack suspect 'not attending conference'
30 Aug 02 | Europe
'It can't get more scary than this'
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