Press release on the preliminary investigations on the suspicious parcel at the Hosea Kutako International Airport

On 17 November 2010 at around 10:00, a laptop bag without a tag was observed and seized by the Namibian Police Force Aviation Security Unit members, at Hosea Kutako International Airport. The bag was re-scanned and as a result suspicious items were observed.

The luggage was destined for Flight AB 7377 of Air Berlin, on its way to Munich, Germany, with 296 passengers and 10 crew members on board.
It was upon the discovery of the suspicious parcel that all passengers and luggage were disembarked and moved to Terminal 1 for further Police investigation.

In pursuit of determining the content of the suspicious parcel, a joint forensic investigation team comprising of the Namibian Police Force, BKA from Germany and the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the USA was constituted.

The preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspicious parcel does not contain any explosive substances; however, it is an explosive simulation training device, manufactured by an American based company, Larry Coppello Incorporated.

It is against this background that the Namibian Police Force wishes to thank the vigilant members of the Aviation Security Unit, employees of Namibia Airport Company as well as other security agencies that have been of assistance during the detection of the suspicious parcel.

Furthermore, we wish to appeal to other employees at other ports of entry countrywide to emulate the vigil of the Namibian Police Aviation Security Unit members and Hosea Kutako international Airport’s employees.

In addition, the Namibian Police Force, further extend its appreciation to the Namibian public, the media and the international communities for their patience and understanding during that trying moment when security agencies were busy with investigation.

It is of importance to indicate that there is no cause for alarm and the security situation at Hosea Kutako International Airport remains normal.

The Namibian Police Force want to send out a stern warning to people with ill-intentions that it will not allow Namibia to be used as a testing ground by anyone. Therefore, it should be clear to would-be suspect(s) in this explosive simulation training device that once caught we will severely deal with them.

In conclusion, I wish to assure the Namibian people and visitors alike that the investigations to determine the motive and intention as well as the culprit(s) involved is ongoing.

The Namibian Police Force further wish to assure the public that it will do its utmost best to complete this investigation in the shortest time possible and the final results will be made publicly known.

I thank you!

Lt-Gen. Sebastian Haitota Ndeitunga
Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Force