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The British teenager arrested on suspicion of making a false bomb threat on a packed easyJet plane has been released on £8,600 bail – but faces paying thousands more if found guilty.
The teenager has been ordered to stay in Spain and report to court every fortnight as part of his release conditions.
A judicial source said: ‘The investigating judge in charge of Mahon Court of Instruction number two has released on €10,000 [£8,600] bail the young man arrested over a false bomb alert on the plane that landed on Sunday in Menorca.
‘The judge has confiscated his passport, banned him from leaving Spain and told him to report periodically to court.’
The judge who took the decision has been named as Belen Velazquez.
It is understood the unnamed teenager has been given five days to find the money he needs to deposit with the court.
Although the judicial source said he had been banned from leaving Spain it is thought he will have to remain in Menorca so he can sign on at the same court he appeared at today.
An unconfirmed local report said the island judge had passed the case over to the Madrid-based Audiencia Nacional Court in Madrid, because it revolved around an issue of national security.
The same report said the Audiencia Nacional, which tries terrorism cases and decides on the extradition of British fugitives arrested in Spain, would decide whether to start its own investigation or hand the case over to the UK ‘because the alleged crime was committed in UK territory’ under international law.
A British teenager arrested on suspicion of making a false bomb threat on a packed easyJet plane has been hauled to court after two nights in a Spanish police cell
An easyJet flight to Menorca has been intercepted by Spanish fighter jets after an 18-year-old British holidaymaker allegedly made a bomb threat on board
The tourist, who is believed to have been part of a group of friends who boarded the Gatwick flight, now faces a potential fine worth thousands
Earlier today, the 18-year-old was taken to the court in the Menorcan capital Mahon by two armed police officers so he could be handed over to a judge for questioning.
The boy’s mum, said to have flown to the sunshine island after hearing about her son’s arrest on Sunday, was reportedly waiting for him at the entrance to the courtroom and was able to greet him before he was led into the building.
The unnamed teenager is thought to have been wearing the same blue shorts and green T-shirt he was arrested in when flight EZY8303 landed in Menorca after being given a Spanish military jet escort.
Reports after he was held said he could face a bill running into the thousands on top of his bail to cover the scrambling of the Spanish Airforce F18 fighter jet and the police operation involving the mobilisation of specialist officers and sniffer dogs to check out the aircraft.
The youngster was part of a group of friends who had travelled to the Mediterranean holiday island for a celebration.
The alarm was sounded as the easyJet plane was near to landing just before 5pm on Sunday. Video footage showed it being escorted by the Spanish fighter jet before it reached its destination.
A local Menorcan daily claimed today Scotland Yard and the French police detected the alleged bomb threat on an unidentified social network and alerted Spanish cops.
The Spanish Civil Guard has not yet commented on the claim.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed on Monday, before it handed the teenager over to a judge after he was forced to swap his holiday accommodation for two nights in a police cell: ‘The Civil Guard has arrested an 18-year-old British national as the alleged author of a public order offence in Mahon in Menorca.
‘On Sunday the control tower at Menorca Airport was alerted to a bomb threat on a plane heading from London to the island capital Mahon which was still in the air and nearing the airport.
The teenager was arrested upon landing in the Mediterranean holiday island
Specialist sniffer dogs were brought to the plane to check the luggage after the alleged bomb threat
‘The threat was said to have been sent on a social media platform.
‘Once the plane landed it was taken to an area away from the main terminal and other aircraft.
‘The Civil Guard organised a special operation which consisted of mobilising bomb disposal experts as well as sniffer dogs and other officers who created a safe perimeter around the plane.
‘The passengers were disembarked and established protocol followed until police were able to confirm it was a false bomb threat and the person responsible was identified on social media along with five other companions as witnesses.
‘They were taken to a police station so officers could clarify the situation.’
Police sources confirmed ahead of the teenager’s court appearance he was likely to have to pick up the tab for the police operation if he were convicted of any crime. Passengers were reportedly kept on the tarmac for four hours while the plane was checked out.
The easyJet plane is understood to have touched down around half an hour late at 4.45pm local time on Sunday. The incident reportedly led to a Ryanair plane leaving two and half hours late to London.
Today’s court hearing was taking place behind closed doors as is normal in Spain where only trials are held in public.
The judge is expected to decide in the coming hours whether to release the detainee on bail pending an anticipated ongoing criminal probe. Local authorities have not commented on whether he could face a speedy trial.
- Were you on board the intercepted flight? Email [email protected]
