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Tourists flee Barcelona airport as man screams at holidaymakers and throws bag

Holidaymakers began running through a terminal at Barcelona-El Prat airport to get away after a man shouted and threw a backpack to the ground before he was arrested

[Barcelona airport (stock image)]

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The incident occurred at Barcelona-El Prat airport (file)(Image: Quique Garca/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

A man sparked terror at Barcelona airport by shouting at holidaymakers and throwing a backpack to the ground.

Holidaymakers began running through El Prat airport to get away and at least two people were treated for panic attacks following the drama. Police called in bomb disposal experts after holding the man with the help of an airport worker.

The Civil Guards elite bomb squad TEDAX unit was alerted to ensure the backpack contained no explosives following checks, although sources said this morning they didnt get involved.

Normality was gradually restored following the scare. The incident occurred around 7.30pm yesterday in the airports T2 terminal.

The regional Mossos dEsquadra police force assisted the Civil Guard by mobilising a rapid deployment police tactical unit, which handles complex, high-risk situations across Spains Catalan region.

A man allegedly responsible for the scare was arrested. Although he was initially described as a Dominican Republic national, police said today he is a 23-year-old from Honduras.

Investigators say they have failed to get a coherent response out of him about why he acted the way he, did but have ruled out a terrorist link.

A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Barcelona said this morning: Witnesses said he suddenly started shouting out jihadist-type slogans at people and officers were called.

"By the time they reached the scene the suspect had already been neutralised by private airport security staff. We were told he had also assaulted another person but it was a minor assault which didnt cause any injuries.

We arrested him on suspicion of a series of crimes including a public order offence and we then determined there was no terror threat despite the nature of what he had been shouting.

"We took the man to the area where airport medical services are based and they recommended his admission to a psychiatric unit.

A police source added: His actions caused a lot of fear among other travellers. Imagine being in an airport and a person starts yelling jihadist-type slogans. Its normal people get scared. But the response was rapid and it quickly became apparent there was no terrorist threat.

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