Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

SIPA USA/PA Images

British officials search inbound plane from Moscow over security fears

Britain said it conducts routine checks on aircraft to protect the UK from organised crime.

BRITISH AUTHORITIES SAID that border officials had searched an incoming Aeroflot plane, a move Russia called an act of “blatant provocation” in the ongoing diplomatic spat between London and Moscow.

Britain said it conducts routine checks on aircraft to protect the UK from organised crime and people attempting to bring harmful substances into the country.

The Russian embassy in London said Friday’s search on a scheduled plane arriving from Moscow at London Heathrow Airport was “extraordinary”.

Britain’s Security Minister Ben Wallace said in a statement: “It is routine for Border Force to search aircraft to protect the UK from organised crime and from those who attempt to bring harmful substances like drugs or firearms into the country.

“Once these checks were carried out the plane was allowed to carry on with its onward journey.”

The Russian embassy suggested the jet had been searched in connection with the diplomatic crisis over the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter on British soil earlier this month.

“We have witnessed another blatant provocation by the British authorities,” it said of the search. “This kind of event is extraordinary.”

The embassy claimed British officials at first tried to search the plane without the crew, although the captain was eventually allowed to be present.

It claimed their requests for clarification on the search had been met with no response.

“We have no other explanation but that the incident at Heathrow is in one way or another connected with the hostile policy that the UK government is conducting with regard to Russia,” it said.

Relations between Russia and the West have been plunged into crisis following the first use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II.

Skripal, who came to Britain in a spy swap, and his daughter Yulia have been in hospital since 4 March after they were poisoned in the southwestern English city of Salisbury.

British authorities say a Soviet-designed nerve agent dubbed Novichok was used.

London, supported by its major Western allies, says there is no alternative conclusion other than Russian state involvement. Moscow denies being behind the attack.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is verifying Britain’s findings.

© AFP 2018

Read: Dublin City Council looking at plans to ban disposable coffee cups at its offices and parks >

Read: Russia escalates action against European countries as it puts UK diplomats on notice >

Author
View 38 comments
Close
38 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 4:49 PM

    It would be a good plan to employ a proof reader

    249
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cindy Crawford
    Favourite Cindy Crawford
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 4:51 PM

    @Nick Allen: Snap. Couldn’t see your comment when I posted mine.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Second Last Word
    Favourite The Second Last Word
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 4:58 PM

    @Nick Allen: it would be a good plane

    55
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:19 PM

    @The Second Last Word: I love it when a plane comes together.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ron
    Favourite Ron
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 6:23 PM

    @Nick Allen:

    It seems that lazy grammer is infiltrating most media platforms….

    Could soon be back to symbols and cave paintings created with feces….

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Mahon
    Favourite Pat Mahon
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 6:36 PM

    @Ron: You spelt, shit wrong, as I did with spelled.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cindy Crawford
    Favourite Cindy Crawford
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 4:49 PM

    Inbound plan. Somebody needs to proofread.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Le Fleur
    Favourite James Le Fleur
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:01 PM

    Plandemonium in the comment section….

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Power
    Favourite Jonathan Power
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:18 PM

    @James Le Fleur: I wonder what their putin in the drinks?

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Lang
    Favourite Michael Lang
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 4:59 PM

    States are and should be entitled to do whatever they consider appropriate to take precautions against possible security dangers from other States.

    Russian State agencies are untrustworthy. If information is received of potential concerns, then these concerns need to be checked as a matter of precaution.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Ryan
    Favourite Keith Ryan
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 4:58 PM

    Did they plan that!?

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peadar Ó Gréacháin
    Favourite Peadar Ó Gréacháin
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:11 PM

    We are the proof readers, that’s there plan…….

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy Roche
    Favourite Tommy Roche
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:25 PM

    @Peadar Ó Gréacháin: Was that intentional ?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Favourite Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:35 PM

    @Tommy Roche: he’ll say it is now …

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Spbeak
    Favourite Spbeak
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:31 PM

    Me fail English – that’s umpossible.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Wall
    Favourite David Wall
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:43 PM

    @Spbeak: haha comment of the weak

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ron
    Favourite Ron
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 7:27 PM

    @David Wall:

    We huve too agreed

    3
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Walt Jabsco
    Favourite Walt Jabsco
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 7:40 PM

    @David Wall:
    Don’t be two hard…

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomas
    Favourite Tomas
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 4:59 PM

    Stop poking that Bear…

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Jordan
    Favourite Mick Jordan
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:09 PM

    @Tomas: Why? What are they gping to do? Invade annex Kent?

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomas
    Favourite Tomas
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:14 PM

    @Mick Jordan: Cambridge Analytics is the real story….been smothered by political theatre..

    29
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:21 PM

    @Tomas: you’re on the journal. It’s poking the bare

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Jordan
    Favourite Mick Jordan
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 6:59 PM

    @Tomas: And what has Cambridge Analytics have to do with your original comment?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hatchjaw
    Favourite Hatchjaw
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 8:01 PM

    @Mick Jordan: mmmm, Kentish Ale, Huuuuuuuuughhhh!!!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute pc_comments
    Favourite pc_comments
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:13 PM

    Russia could cut off natural gas to Britian….They get about 15% of gas from Russia as do we also….Britain is at the end of the pipeline not sure they can cut Britian without Germany also having no central heating….

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute wattsed
    Favourite wattsed
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 7:26 PM

    @pc_comments: Nonsense, did you get those number from Gazprom ? – check before attempting to create anxiety.

    Russian gas exports are worth around 35 billion euro annually to the Kremlin, subsidising to a large degree the cost to the domestic Russian market. Political suicide to diminish that subsidy.
    Gas consumption in the UK has been in decline for years. Improvements in housebuilding and insulation have had a large influence.
    Ireland won’t feel the pinch, there’s additional capacity in Norway which is currently pipelined to Scotland and in turn piped to us. We also have Corrib producing half what we consume.
    Europe itself may in future decide to not purchase Russian gas, options include higher imports of LNG from the Gulf and Asia.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute pc_comments
    Favourite pc_comments
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 8:37 PM

    @wattsed: ..While Europe as a whole gets more than a third of its gas from Russia, that share is lower in the U.K., which receives the bulk of its fuel from North Sea fields and Norway.

    Still, Moscow-based Gazprom PJSC was the second-biggest supplier to major industrial consumers in the U.K. last year, according to Britain’s energy regulator Ofgem.

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-14/may-seeks-alternatives-for-russian-natural-gas-after-spy-scandal

    8
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute wattsed
    Favourite wattsed
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 9:07 PM

    @pc_comments: Ah now, here. Read the article in full if you want to use elements of it to justify. The article from Bloomberg you linked :

    Says that less than 1 percent of UK consumption comes from Russia. You stated 15 percent.
    The UK bought 2 LNG tanker shipments from Russia. Qatar is the major supplier of LNG to the UK.
    Ireland, if it has any dependancy, is to South America in importing most of our smokeless fuel for power generation.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Maher
    Favourite Michael Maher
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:20 PM

    Taunt the dog too much and he will bite!

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Jordan
    Favourite Mick Jordan
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 8:25 PM

    @Michael Maher: If that dog tries biting it may get a nasty shock when the bigger dog rips it’s throat out.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dessie Deratta
    Favourite Dessie Deratta
    Report
    Apr 1st 2018, 1:06 PM

    @Mick Jordan: yeah Mick.

    If the bigger is intent on suicide. No winners in a nuclear holocaust.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles Williams
    Favourite Charles Williams
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 11:37 PM

    So the British Government now believe the Russians are bringing in chemical weapons on inbound Aeroflot Airlines, if this were the case there would be a lot of dead passengers in the cabins of those airlines. I think they have just undermined their original claim.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kenny Wolf
    Favourite Kenny Wolf
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 5:40 PM

    Anyone who hasn’t seen the film ‘Canadian Bacon’ yet, I’d strongly suggest that you watch it….

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Doran
    Favourite Karl Doran
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 7:12 PM

    Brexit, they can do what they like now. No EU controlling them now….

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Jordan
    Favourite Mick Jordan
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 8:27 PM

    @Karl Doran: And what pray tell has Brexit got to do with UK customs searching a plane from Moscow?

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dessie Deratta
    Favourite Dessie Deratta
    Report
    Apr 1st 2018, 1:09 PM

    @Mick Jordan: D’oh!
    Everything…it’s part of the T May distraction circus

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Mar 31st 2018, 11:21 PM

    More Russian bull, the UK in a hissy fit over Ukraine and Syria?

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a comment

 
cancel reply
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds