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ARCHIVED - Malaga airport activates anti-terrorist alert after woman threatens to shoot down planes
The woman told Aena security at the Costa del Sol airport she would open fire on planes if all air traffic was not brought to a standstill
A Level 4 (high risk) anti-terrorist alert was activated at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport after a 46-year-old woman threatened to shoot down aeroplanes if all air traffic was not halted.
The woman has been arrested and charged with an alleged crime of public disorder after she called airport management company Aena's security department and warned she would open fire if her demands were not met.
The terrifying incident happened at 11am on Monday April 3, the start of the first major tourism period in Spain. Aena contacted the National Police and told them the caller claimed to have enough firepower to reach planes in the air, and would start shooting if all flights were not cancelled.
A counter terrorist alert at level 4 (5 is the maximum) was immediately activated.
After several enquiries, police managed to fully identify the caller and at 3.30pm the suspect was located and arrested.
In a statement, the National Police said that "the rapid action made it possible to neutralise the threat and identify and arrest the alleged perpetrator without the need to activate evacuation measures", adding the threat was considered "exceptional" given that it was made during Easter Week "at a time when there is a large influx of air traffic and passengers".
A few weeks ago, the National Police in Malaga arrested a 20-year-old woman for alleged public disorder over a bomb threat at a supermarket in a shopping centre in the capital. The threat was shared on social media networks.
The message warned shoppers not to visit the store that same afternoon because she planned to plant three bombs.
The suspect was also identified and arrested and both unrelated cases are now in the hands of the Malaga Court of Instruction, Number 10.
Image: Archive
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