Fake nail bomber’s bid to get interview with TV star Piers
A STUDENT built a series of fake nail bombs which triggered a massive security alert in Manchester city centre – in the hope of being interviewed on TV by Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan.
Thanasis Joel, 27, wrote a letter to the ITV broadcaster saying: “By the time you get this, you will hear of me.”
He then planted one bogus device in a library, before taking two others to the heart of Manchester.
As thousands of people milled around Piccadilly Gardens, Joel got off a tram, approached a police officer and said he had two fake bombs in his rucksack, along with a hammer, a knife and a ball bearing gun.
He warned a third device had been left in a toilet nine miles away at Oldham Library. As the officer listened, former carpentry student Joel – who has mental health issues and who was sporting a white t-shirt with the names of mass murderers and white supremacists written in black marker pen on the front – said: “They are telling me to harm people and I have had enough.”
It triggered a major evacuation of the area as army bomb disposal teams carried out a controlled explosion on the device in Oldham before making safe the other two in Manchester.
Enquiries revealed the fake bombs were jam jars filled with nails and wires, with watches placed on top.
The security operation, at 1pm on a Friday, May 3, is thought to have cost businesses in Manchester up to £500,000 in lost trade. Primark, which has its
flagship store in Manchester suffered £200,000 in lost business, while Debenhams lost £90,000 and a Tesco Express store lost £10,000.
Police recovered the letter Joel wrote to the TV star and journalist as they searched him at the scene.
It read: “Hello Piers. By the time you get this letter, you will hear of me in the news for what I am about to do. I have mental problems, but we are let down by the NHS and the government. I will make fake bombs and put them in Manchester.”
“I just want to tell my story. Don’t know where I will be. Find me. I will be in prison or mental hospital where I need to be.”
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Joel, from Hollinwood, Oldham, admitted placing an article with intent to cause fear; causing a public nuisance; having a bladed article; and possession of a firearm.
He faces up to seven years in jail and will be sentenced at a later date.
Vanessa Thomson, prosecuting said: “As a consequence of the public alarm, other calls were received regarding suspect packages. The fear of terror attacks had increased following the Arena attack and the task of ensuring public safety was paramount.”
Carl Hargan, for Joel, said: “He was suffering from mental health difficulties and his remorse is genuine in this case.
“He cannot believe what he has done. He is ashamed of what he has done.”