Swedish authorities confirmed today that the man arrested at a Swedish airport after a gun was found in his hand luggage had attended a flight training school in the United States.
But the chief of the national security police denied earlier reports that the suspect was planning to crash the aircraft into a US embassy in Europe and that they were looking for four men connected to the plan.
"It's false information. I deny it absolutely," security police director Ms Margareta Linderoth said. "We are not looking for four more men."
The 29-year-old suspect was identified by the defence lawyer as Mr Karem Chatty. Mr Nils Uggla said his client was not planning a hijacking.
Police said Mr Chatty had a criminal record including a firearms offence and had been convicted of theft and assault.
Mr Chatty was detained on Thursday at Vaesteraas airport in central Sweden as he prepared to board a Ryanair flight to England.
The suspect was moved to a high security prison and was expected to be charged on Monday with hijacking or illegal possession of a firearm.
Mr Uggla said his client can explain why he carried a gun in a toiletries bag and that Chatty regrette d causing trouble for the 20 people booked for the same flight who also were detained for questioning and later released.
Ms Linderoth said her agency, known as SAPO, was working with local police and was investigating a possible link to terrorism. She confirmed a media report that the man had an incomplete pilot education from the United States.
But she stressed that was just one part of the investigation and she declined to comment further on the motive.
Swedish police do not believe the arrested man or anyone he was working with were part of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda group, blamed by Washington for the September 11 attacks. Instead they believe a copycat attack was being planned.
AP