Germany police seek Munich 'bomb alert' traveller

Some 1,000 police spent hours searching for the man on Wednesday

Police are searching for a middle-aged man who fled after his computer sparked a security alert at a German airport.

Part of Munich airport was closed for hours on Wednesday as the traveller's laptop set off an explosives detector.

Some 1,000 police scoured the airport for the man, who hastily left the security area as the alarm was raised.

Police stress that they only want to talk to the man, who may just have been in a hurry to catch a plane and failed to realise more checks were needed.

Although the man was not found, police say they have a clear image of him on camera.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere described the incident as a serious security breach and ordered a thorough investigation.

Airports around the world have been on heightened alert since an alleged attempt to blow up a US airliner flying from Amsterdam to Detroit last month.

On Thursday, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is in Spain to discuss European airport security with EU ministers.

Security questioned

Wednesday's security breach was unacceptable, Germany's police union said.

"If you're checking someone, you have to be able to hold onto him," Josef Scheuring, the union's chairman, told Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

Munich airport is the second busiest in Germany

Some 60 flights were delayed or cancelled as a result of the alert, which closed Germany's second busiest airport for three hours from 1530 (1430 GMT).

Initial reports said explosive traces had been found during the check.

But federal police spokesman Albert Poerschke said the activation of the alarm did not "have to mean that there were explosives inside" - the scanner may have been set off by chemicals such as perfumes.

"We're searching for the man but I'd like to stress he is not wanted for any criminal matter," he said later, quoted by Reuters news agency.

"It was evidently a businessman who wanted to catch his plane. The man probably didn't even realise that he was being requested to stay for another laptop examination."

Munich airport is situated about 30km (20 miles) north-east of the city in southern Germany.