Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
No bail for Qld hoax airport bomb suspect

A man who allegedly pulled out a knife and made a bomb threat at the Brisbane International Airport, causing it to be evacuated has appeared in court.

February 11, 2019

A man who allegedly caused the evacuation of Brisbane International Airport after whipping out a knife and claiming he had a bomb has been remanded in custody.

Gamal Elsaied Elboushi, 50, of Surfers Paradise, is facing a string of state and commonwealth charges related to the alleged incident in the terminal’s food court on February 2.

The emergency was triggered after Elboushi allegedly pulled out a knife and began threatening a woman about 9pm.

It’s understood the woman is a relative of Elboushi.

It’s also alleged Elboushi was carrying a metal box with a switch attached to it and made bomb threats against two airports – the Brisbane Airport and the Gold Coast Airport.

A Queensland police officer who spoke Arabic helped diffuse the situation, which ended when Elboushi was shot with non-lethal bean bag rounds. 

The day after the incident, police said Elboushi had gone to 
extraordinary lengths” to create a perception of “risk, threat and fear” but the device was actually harmless.

It triggered a major response from the Australian Federal Police and local police who locked down the airport for more than two hours and halted the airport train services.

Hundreds of travellers were delayed.

Elboushi was later charged in hospital with 10 offences, including stealing a number plate from a government vehicle, the serious assault of a police officer, falsely making bomb threats and stalking.

The charges carry a jail term of up to 10 years.

Elboushi didn’t apply for bail in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday and was remanded in custody to reappear on March 11.

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