A MAN was arrested at Barcelona Airport after throwing a backpack onto the ground and shouting ‘Allahu Akbar,’ sending terrified travellers fleeing in panic.
Footage shows frightened passengers hiding under tables while others fled the area at El Prat Airport’s Terminal 2 at around 7.30pm on Monday.
Some travellers smashed through doors in a desperate bid to escape, while at least two people were treated for panic attacks after believing the abandoned backpack contained explosives, according to local outlet El Caso.
Guardia Civil officers, assisted by an airport worker, quickly restrained and arrested the suspect, who was later identified as a Dominican national.
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It remains unclear what prompted the man’s actions, though according to El Caso, he is believed to suffer from psychiatric problems and was unable to answer officers’ questions coherently during questioning.
Specialist TEDAX bomb disposal officers were called in after the alarm was raised, later confirming that the backpack contained no explosives and allowing the terminal to gradually return to normal.
Despite the panic, the scare did not disrupt airport operations during one of the busiest periods of the summer travel season.
The Arabic phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’ means ‘God is greatest’ and has been used by jihadist terrorists during past attacks.
Investigators do not currently believe the suspect has any links to terrorist organisations or that he had been radicalised.
An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
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