A malicious hoaxer who sent police into a frenzy by falsely claiming bombs had been planted at two of the UK's busiest airports has been jailed for three years.
Adil Iqbal, 30, made a series of terrifying calls in August 2022 alleging explosive devices had been hidden at Heathrow and Birmingham airports, causing major security alerts and disrupting travel.
Airport Chaos
The court heard how Iqbal's actions triggered emergency protocols at both airports, with specialist teams deployed and flights potentially delayed as authorities scrambled to respond to what they believed was a genuine terror threat.
Detective Chief Inspector James Pinkney from the Counter Terrorism Policing unit described the incident as "a calculated attempt to cause maximum disruption and fear".
Digital Footprint
Investigators were able to trace the calls through digital forensics, leading them to Iqbal's home in Slough. Phone records and other digital evidence left no doubt about his involvement.
Judge Sarah Johnston told Iqbal: "Your actions wasted valuable police resources and caused unnecessary fear among airport staff and travellers. This was not a prank but a serious criminal offence."
Previous Offences
The court was told Iqbal had previous convictions for making nuisance calls, including bomb threats to other public locations. Prosecutors argued this demonstrated a pattern of dangerous behaviour.
In addition to the prison sentence, Iqbal was given a 10-year restraining order preventing him from contacting airports or making any public threats.
Aviation security experts have warned that such hoaxes remain a serious challenge for authorities, with each false alarm potentially costing thousands of pounds and diverting resources from genuine threats.
