Fancy dress soldier terror alert

A drunken soldier with wires and candles stuffed into his combat jacket to look like an Arab suicide bomber sparked a major security alert.

Fifteen police cars and armed officers were called after the Coldstream Guards sergeant was spotted as he left the Hampshire regiment's fancy dress party.

A passer-by raised the alarm when he spotted the soldier on Camp Farm Road in Aldershot on Wednesday at about 4pm.

Police arrested the soldier who spent a night in custody and was later fined.

The Royal Military Police were also called after the sergeant was seen wearing a turban, a false beard and Arab-style clothing following the party, which was held to mark the regiment's role in the Battle of Waterloo.

Soldiers have ways of coping with the things they do, if you take the mickey out of them, that's a device for coping Aldershot Army base spokesman

A spokesman for Aldershot Army base said: "Soldiers have ways of coping with the things they do.

"They face people like that. If you take the mickey out of them, that's a device for coping.

"That's perfectly fair. What's not correct is spreading alarm by walking about like that on the public road."

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said the regiment had been "embarrassed" by the incident and its Sergeant Major had called to assure police "there would not be any other people leaving the party dressed like that".

The spokesman added: "There wasn't anything behind his actions. He was just a drunk soldier, therefore he didn't get charged with anything more serious."

The soldier who served in the army for 10 years admitted a public disorder offence and was fined £80.

An internal army inquiry is expected to be held.