SINGAPORE: “Be careful. Do not throw it; it might explode. This is a bomb.”
This was the warning note on a package arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Cargo Terminal on Thursday (Apr 25) that caused further alarm as security scanning found it contained a laptop, batteries and wires.
But it later turned out to be a hoax.
“It was found that there were no explosive materials, but there was a threatening statement on the package, and the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police took action according to standard operating procedures (SOP),” said KLIA district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azman Shari’at.
Further investigations were still being conducted in accordance with Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal threat, said Mr Azman, cited in local media.
According to the district chief, police received a report at 1.30pm from the officer operating the scanning machine about a package addressed to someone in Limbang, Sarawak.
Mr Azman said the scanned package was believed to contain a laptop, battery and some wires, and a check by the officer found the note claiming the package contained a bomb.
A team was dispatched to the location upon receiving the report, and the K-9 unit was also dispatched, he added.
“The police immediately conducted an investigation. Detection using dogs from the K-9 unit found it negative for explosives,” said Mr Azman, cited in the Malay Mail.
But still, standard operating procedure was followed and the Bomb Disposal Unit was called in and the package was destroyed using a robotic unit, with no explosion occurring.
The authorities contacted the sender of the package, who is in Kuala Lumpur, and he confirmed its contents.
Police said the sender is being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal threats.
Police have recently doubled staff strength and stepped up patrols at KLIA after the airport’s Terminal 1 became the scene of a shooting on Apr 14 that left one man injured.
