Namibian airport security chief arrested over dummy detonator

The man is accused of having placed a suitcase, containing a detonator wired to batteries and a clock, on a luggage conveyor belt, a ministry spokesman said after investigations by Namibian police.

Namibian police chief Sebastian Haitota Ndeitunga said the suspect was a high-ranking officer who had worked in the police for five years. It was now crucial to establish who he had worked with, Ndeitunga added.

The item triggered a major security alert Wednesday when it was found in Windhoek airport amongst luggage bound for Germany. German investigators who travelled to Namibia identified the device as a harmless dummy, used to spot security loopholes.The man was arrested late Friday and admitted to the charges, the interior ministry said. He is to appear before court Monday. The motives were not known.