Italian teenager, 19, sentenced after carrying decommissioned grenade through Heathrow security checks

An Italian teengaer has been sentenced after admitting to trying to pass a decommissioned grenade through security at Heathrow Airport, sparking a mass evacuation of Terminal 2.

The owner of the luggage, Domenico Giovinazzo, 19, was arrested after security officers spotted the hollowed-out grenade during checks in the departures area of Terminal 2 at around 5.30pm on Friday January 15.

Specialist officers rushed to the scene and were able to identify the item as a decommissioned hand grenade, and confirmed that it posed no threat to staff or passengers.

He was charged the next day with carrying a prohibited article in an aerodrome.

Chf Supt Sean Wilson, who leads the Met’s aviation policing command said: “There are certain items that are strictly prohibited from being brought into an airport and bringing a hand grenade - albeit decommissioned - was both reckless and dangerous and it caused a huge amount of disruption to the airport and for other passengers.

“There are various security checks in place to identify prohibited items such as this and when this item was spotted, we had specialist officers on-hand to quickly respond. Thankfully they were able to identify the item was not a threat and nobody was hurt.”

He added: "This should be a reminder and warning to all passengers to ensure that they are not bringing any prohibited items with them into the airport and if you are not sure, then check with the airport and airline you are flying with.”

Giovinazzo appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Monday, January 18, where he pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, suspended for one year, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128.

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