The 44th Episode : Suspicion of carrying a bomb
[April, 1991 London Heathrow Airport, UK]
Time had come for boarding and started the inspection of hand-carry bag and body check, that of course passed. I picked up my bag and took some steps, then WAIT! the officer said. I looked back but nobody was there. Me? He took me to a desk by the passageway.
He pointed out my bag and said put it on the desk. I obeyed. He opened it with the privilege of the officers. A hand sized electronic calculator was picked out and put on the desk. He said “depress the buttons at random.” I didn’t understand his intension at all but obeyed. Numbers appeared and disappeared repeatedly. He was just looking that. Some time later he said “OK, you can go.”
Acquittal. What was that?
The year was before 1998, the year of Belfast Agreement. The Northern Ireland Conflict was being continued. One of the weapons terrorists used was a calculator shaped bomb. I didn’t know how it worked though. The officer was concerned and had random inspection.
But why me? I looked every inch an Asian. I must have looked no relation with the conflict or did I look a terrorist?
