Image: AOP

Officials in Thailand have detained a 63-year-old Finnish tourist suspected of issuing a bomb threat at the international airport in Bangkok.

Police tracked down the Finnish man, claiming that he had made a threat about an explosion at the Suvarnabhumi international airport. The man was taken into custody when he arrived to check in for a flight to Finland.

News agency Reuters reported that the man was held at the airport on 1 January.

The man denied issuing a bomb threat and said that he only wanted to warn officials about security lapses that he had observed at the airfield when he entered the country.

However Thai officials said that the man’s call had created panic at the facility. The act is a criminal offence in Thailand and could be punishable by a prison sentence ranging from five to 15 years or a fine of between 6,000 and 18,000 euros.

The man is said to be still in police custody. Police said he will undergo a psychiatric evaluation before charges are possibly laid.