Man arrested after shouting 'Allahu Akbar' and 'Boom' on Emirates flight Birmingham. (ET).
A man on board an Emirates flight from Dubai to Birmingham created panic among passengers as he shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Boom’.
Shehraz Sarwar, who was arrested for using threatening words and behaviour on the plane, threw food and towels around causing uproar in the aircraft as people feared a terrorist attack.
Earlier during takeoff, the 38-year-old had refused to fasten his seat belt but had later settled down and slept for hours. However, as the pilot lined the plane up to land, he became aggressive. There was also severe turbulence on the plane at the time.
Prosecuting Sarwar in Birmingham Crown Court, Patrick Sullivan QC told the Birmingham Mail, “The behaviour before these words was obnoxious. He fell asleep for about three quarters of the flight and when he woke up he threw a towel back at a member of staff who had offered him one. He also threw a scone behind him although it did not land on anyone.”
“He was also hitting his head with his hand. People were distressed and upset by his behavior,” Sullivan added.
Sarwar, a resident of Birmingham, pleaded guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Balbir Singh, said he had been affected by the death of his grandmother and hadn’t taken his medication.
“The heavy turbulence also provoked him,” his lawyer said. One passenger said they were happy to have survived the landing but thought Sarwar was going to set off a bomb aboard the flight.
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