'Bomb' joker may get diversion

A Gisborne man arrested at Hamilton International Airport on Tuesday for joking there was a bomb in his luggage may avoid conviction.

The 44-year-old man appeared briefly in Hamilton District Court on a charge of using obscene language but was offered diversion by police. He was also granted interim name suppression, the Waikato Times reported.

The man was cautioned by airport security staff on Tuesday morning for leaving his luggage unattended in the airport terminal.

He allegedly replied by saying: "It's a bomb, can you hear it ticking?"

He told staff he was joking but police were called and he was arrested.

Graham Puryer, national operations manager of the Aviation Security Service, said people who made statements about bombs being in their bags were taken very seriously and were always referred to police.

If convicted people can face up to 12 months' prison or maximum $10,000 fine.

- NZPA