Police ‘errors’ led to release of man with pipe bomb in hand luggage

A man who tried to carry a pipe bomb on to a plane in his hand luggage was initially released after “errors” in the assessment of the device, police have said. Nadeem Muhammad, 43, was planning to board a Ryanair flight to Italy on 30 January when security staff at Manchester Airport found the device, made of masking tape, batteries, the tube of a marker pen, pins and wires – and which contained nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose – in the zip lining of his small green suitcase.

Yesterday, he was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or property.

The court heard police had initially believed the bomb was not viable and, after being questioned by counter-terrorism officers, Muhammad, who was born in Pakistan but had an Italian passport, was released.

He was able to board a flight to Italy five days later.

Superintendent Graeme Openshaw, of Greater Manchester Police’s specialist operations unit, said: “Based on the overall circumstances of his stop and the information presented at the time, police officers determined that there was not sufficient evidence or suspicion to arrest the man and place restrictions on his movement.

“Following subsequent forensic examination of the device carried out by police, it 0 Nadeem Muhammad planned to board Ryanair flight