The man suspected of attempting to hi-jack a Ryanair plane last week has been remanded in custody by a Swedish court today.
Judge Thomas Wallin at the Vaesteraas district court ordered that Mr Kerim Chatti (29) a Swedish national of Tunisian dissent, should be held in custody because of a risk that he could try to "destroy evidence, interfere with the investigation and continue his criminal activities."
Mr Chatti was arrested last week at Vaesteraas Airport bound for Stansted Airport with a gun in his hand luggage. He was en route to a Muslim conference in Birmingham.
Prosecutor Thomas Haeggstroem asked the district court hearing to remand the suspect in custody on suspicion of "preparing a hijacking, air traffic sabotage, or airport sabotage". The prosecutor also asked that he be held for violating Swedish gun laws.
Mr Chatti, addressed the court only to confirm his presence, before his lawyer Mr Nils Uggla argued his client had no plans to hijack the airplane.
"He contests all the suspicions against him apart from the weapons violation. He admits that there is probable cause for suspicion of weapons violation," Mr Uggla told the court.
Mr Uggla told reporters his client had an explanation for why he was carrying the gun, but that he could not discuss it with reporters because he was under a gag order.
Swedish daily newspaper Expressenquoted Mr Chatti as telling investigators: "I took that weapon to protect myself because I felt threatened. If I had intended to hijack the plane, I would certainly not have hidden a pistol in a bag of toiletries."
Mr Chatti who converted to Islam a few years ago, has a criminal record including theft and assault and is reported to have had dealings with the Swedish underworld.
Swedish prosecutors have been trying to determine whether Mr Chatti has any ties to terrorist organisations and are liaising with British detectives.
Media reports at the weekend said Mr Chatti had planned to crash the plane into a US embassy in Europe, although Swedish police quickly dismissed the claims.
However, Swedish intelligence service Saepo said the suspect had attended a pilot's course in the United States. The September 11th attackers also attended flight training classes in the US.
AFP