Fake Bomb Found in Cell Phone at Indian Airport

A man carrying fake explosives inside a mobile phone caused a bomb scare at an airport in India Tuesday.

According to the Daily Mail, a 26-year-old man, identified only as M. Mohammed, was walking through a security checkpoint at Mangalore Airport as he prepared for his flight to Dubai.

As Mohammed went through security, an officer noticed something suspicious about the phone and investigated further. Upon a closer inspection, security personnel discovered a clay-like substance inside the phone’s power bank.

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A bomb-sniffing dog was brought to the scene, but authorities received mixed signals. An explosive trace test was eventually conducted on the phone, but it was confirmed that it was not a viable device.

“IndiGo's alert security screener staff at Mangalore caught a suspect carrying an alleged cellphone bomb today,” the airline said in a statement on Twitter. “The matter has been reported to the local police. Since it is a sensitive security matter we have nothing more to share.”

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The discovery comes as police around the world are on the lookout for similar devices after a plot by terrorists was uncovered last year in which they planned on setting off a home-made mobile phone bomb during the holiday season.

Tuesday’s discovery also comes after a group of terrorists attempted to smuggle a Barbie doll and meat grinder packed with explosives aboard an Etihad Airways flight in July. While the plan was eventually abandoned, four Lebanese-Australian brothers were connected to the plot.

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