 Former GP Driver Charged over Airport Knife Find Thursday January 17th, 2002
The Briton, who has been charged with a weapons offence under aviation security laws, was stopped at a routine security checkpoint while trying to board a British Airways flight bound for Seattle on Wednesday. "Security staff...discovered sharp items including a knife and pliers on the man. The items were concealed in his shoes and socks and were confiscated along with a screwdriver hidden in his spectacles case," she said on Thursday. 54-year old Ashley, now a racing driver instructor from Newark in Nottinghamshire, had competed in Formula One racing from 1974 to 1977, qualifying for four Grands Prix in 11 attempts with cars from the Token, Brabham, Williams, BRM and Hesketh teams. The spokeswoman said he had been charged with carrying an offensive weapon in an airport. A police source told Reuters that officers did not believe the incident was terror-related. The man was released on bail to appear at the Uxbridge Magistrates Court on February 1. Last month, Briton Richard Reid was overpowered on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami after allegedly trying to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes. The U.S. has indicted Reid for attempted murder and attempted mass destruction and accused him of having trained with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network in Afghanistan.
Published at 18:40:16 GMT
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Former Formula One driver Ian Ashley was arrested on Thursday when trying to board a flight to the United States after a knife was allegedly found in his socks, a spokeswoman for London's Heathrow airport said.
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