Dublin airport was evacuated again yesterday after a bag left mistakenly in the arrivals hall caused a second bomb scare in three days.
Between 3,000 and 4,000 passengers were evacuated just before 8am, and all outgoing flights were grounded. In the hours of the incident there were 30 arrivals and 25 departures scheduled. The incident affected 60 flights and 12,000 passengers.
Yesterday evening gardaí said they had established that there was no "malicious intent" after they had made contact with the passenger who left the bag behind.
"We're happy enough that the bag was left there by mistake," said a Garda spokeswoman. There would be no charges against the passenger.
Following the second disruption, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) would not confirm or deny a possible review of airport security.
Vincent Wall, of the DAA, said airport security procedures were kept under constant review. It was "definitely not saying that there won't be changes".
Spokespersons for the Garda and the Defence Forces said any review was a matter for the airport authority.
The incident began at 7.40am when a suspicious rucksack with a copy of the Koran on top of it was discovered in the arrivals hall by a member of the airport police. The area where the rucksack was found was evacuated immediately.
The Army's explosives ordinance disposal team was dispatched from its barracks in Cathal Brugha Street at 8.30am. It arrived at the airport at 8.55am.
At 9.30am the unit removed the copy of the Koran before carrying out a "disruption" on the rucksack, using a shotgun cartridge to propel water inside it at high pressure. The bag contained medicines and other personal belongings.
Gardaí declared the building safe at 9.55am. Staff and security re-entered the building shortly after and full operations resumed 15 to 20 minutes afterwards.
Sheikh Imam Al-Hussein, head of Ireland's Muslim community, said Muslims carry Korans with them when they are travelling.
In the wake of a second bomb scare in three days, Fianna Fáil TD Martin Brady called for the airport to have its own bomb squad.
"At present, when there is an alert at the airport, an Army bomb squad has to cross the city, causing delays in responding to the incidents. As part of the review of this week's incidents, consideration should be given to basing a unit at the airport, reducing any delay."
Yesterday afternoon only passengers who had confirmed travel arrangements for yesterday were allowed to enter the terminal building.
A number of flights were affected, although disruption was not as widespread as it was for Tuesday's bomb scare.
Eight Ryanair flights were delayed and one was cancelled.
No Aer Lingus flights were cancelled, but five flights to Britain and Europe were delayed during the incident.
The airline's flights recommenced at 10.45am, and delays began to clear by mid-afternoon.
To allow the backlog to clear the DAA restricted inbound flights from landing for a brief period before 1pm.
Outside the airport, the M1 slip road was closed just after 8am. Congestion worsened when passengers abandoned their cars and began to walk to the airport. The M1 reopened at 11.20am.
The old Swords road remained congested as the backlog continued into early afternoon.