Egypt detains US passenger with weapons in bags

CAIRO: Egyptian authorities detained a passenger arriving from New York's John F Kennedy airport Wednesday with handguns, ammunition and knives in his bag, China's Xinhua news agency reported, citing an Egyptian media as saying.
Mohamed Ibrahim Marei, a US university professor of Egyptian origin, arrived on EgyptAir flight 986 from John F Kennedy Airport.
Customs officials in Cairo checked his luggage because he looked nervous, and found two handguns and 250 rounds of ammunition hidden in metal boxes, an Egyptian official said on condition of anonymity.
In a secret compartment in the bag, authorities also found two swords, five daggers and six knives, the official added.
An investigation has been launched, the official said.
The airport authorities said the passenger managed to hoodwink authorities in John F. Kennedy Airport and board the plane with the objects despite tight security measures which have been in force since September 11 attacks in 2001. -- Bernama