Army officer arrested after trying to take grenade through UK airport

A senior Army officer has been arrested and charged over allegedly carrying a hand grenade through security at a busy British airport. 

Lt Col Hugo Clark, who has served in Afghanistan and received an MBE honour in 2006, faces court action following an incident at Edinburgh Airport, it has been revealed.

Clark, 54, is reported to have had a dummy weapon in his hand luggage while going through the airport in the Scottish capital on October 16.

Bomb squad officers are said to have rushed to the scene after the discovery in the baggage held by the communications chief serving with the Royal Regiment of Scotland, who was due to travel home on leave.

The Sun quoted a source as saying: 'All the grenade's explosives had been removed so it could safely be used in training.

'But to the untrained eye it looked exactly the same as a real grenade.

'Imagine if a terrorist had taken it out in mid-air and waved it around in front of passengers - it could have caused absolute mayhem.'

A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Around 8.05am on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, police were called by security at Edinburgh Airport after a decommissioned ordnance device was found during scanning of a passenger's hand luggage.

'Explosive Ordnance Disposal attended and the item was assessed as non-viable and posed no threat.

'A 54-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date.'

An Army spokesperson said: 'A Service Person was involved in a security incident at Edinburgh Airport on 16th October.

'As the matter is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings we won't comment further.'

The officer's military career is reported to have included operational tours in Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Sub-Saharan Africa.

He has also spoken in the past of his hobby of oil painting in an art studio at his home in the Scottish Borders.

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June this year, he donated four works of art for a silent auction in aid of armed forces charities Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland. 

He said earlier this year: 'Something as ambitious as this D-Day project is completely new ground for me – I wasn't there at D-Day, nor can I simply jump into the back of a Dakota C47 aircraft or take a good look at the stern of a K Class Destroyer.

'I draw and paint people best so wanted to put a human picture on D-Day and, if possible, wanted to take the viewer there and to capture the feel of what it might have been like.'

In April 2021, he was pictured saluting before members of the 105th Regiment Royal Artillery as they fired a 41-round gun salute at Edinburgh Castle, to mark the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.