By Houda Mzioudet.
Tunis, 25 October 2015:
Libyan-registered vehicles were subjected to significantly increased security checks in Tunis today, especially near Tunis-Carthage Airport, after . . .[restrict]a Libyan car was reported to have been discovered on Friday evening on the runway.
According to Tunisian newspaper Al Chourouk, the car sneaked into a back entrance to the airport, going through more than one control point, without being stopped by security officials. It managed to do so by taking advantage of the rush hour and the increased movement of buses and cars belonging to the Office of Civil Aviation.
An investigation by the Interior Ministry is reported to have been launched. It would find out who was involved in “the scandal”, Al Chourouk stated.
The reason for the incident is unknown. Nothing illegal was found inside the car, the paper said. The driver was reported to have been was arrested.
However, there are suggestions that the vehicle was deliberately allowed into the airport to embarrass officials in a squabble about security. According to Al Chourouk, there is rivalry within the airport between influential figures over the control of “sensitive” positions and this is said to have impacted on security there.
Increased security procedures were noticeable at the airport today with everyone entering the terminal being asked to remove their belts as they went through security gates. This is normally only demanded of passengers after they have gone through passport control.
Increased security was also in evidence elsewhere in the city with sniffer dogs being used at police checkpoints.
Attempts to contact Tunis-Carthage Airport as well as Tunisian Civil Aviation Authority to obtain details about the incident did not succeed, with phone calls unanswered. [/restrict]
