Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
DUTCH POLICE HAVE arrested a teenage girl after she allegedly tweeted a threat to American Airlines posing as an al-Qaeda member, a police spokesman said today.
The 14-year-old girl named Sarah “reported to the police this morning accompanied by a relative”, Rotterdam police’s Roland Ekkers said.
“She’s been taken into custody with a hearing against her to start soon,” he told AFP.
Sarah apparently posted the message that landed her in hot water on social network Twitter on Sunday morning.
“hello, my name’s Ibrahim and I’m from Afghanistan. I’m part of Al Qaida and on June 1st I’m gonna do something really big bye,” read the message, which has since been deleted together with her account.
American Airlines then responded, saying “Sarah, we take these threats very seriously. Your IP address and details will be forwarded to security and the FBI.”
Dutch public broadcaster NOS said Sarah, whose tweet earned her thousands of new followers, then furiously tried to rectify the situation.
She tweeted:
I’m really sorry. I’m really scared now. I made a joke, please… I’m just a girl.
Another tweet read:
I’m not going to tell my parents. They’ll tell me to delete my acc (account) omg (oh my God) that will be the end of my life.
I always wanted to be famous, but I meant like (teen idol) Demi Lovato famous, not Osama bin laden famous.
Ekkers said police were investigating “because of the uproar caused over the weekend”.
It is not sure how long Sarah will still be under arrest, he added. “We would like to find out what her motives were.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
More of these type of people in government please. … Best of luck in your new position. .. Don’t be bullied and stick to your principles….
Yours sincerely
A fan of decency and democracy
I’ll believe him and the rest of the supposed Independents are such when they vote down a govt bill, or use Article 27 to put one to the people in a referendum.
Unless they do something like that this is all just hot air, talk is cheap, force a really unpopular govt bill to referendum that will prove not only your independence but it will prove the Senate can finally be something more than a rubber stamp.
Unlike my last comment to you Ryan, I agree and echo your post there entirely. Well said.
Look at the Fainna Fail boyo’s circling the wagons around him..
I see David Norris Ind, Peter Matthews Ind (ex Fine Gael) and Thomas Byrne (FF) and am not able to make out who the other person is. No circling of wagons
Not until the cheque clears, anyways.
Independent my arse once a fger always a fger
“I won’t be whipped by (just) any party”, dirty
So what if he was a British soldier?
It’s a big deal for some. How many elected politicians around the world are there that have served in another countries army, especially at a time when there was a territorial dispute between the two countries in question.
Yeah but it’s not like tens of thousands, most likely hundreds of thousands of Irish men down through the years have not served in the British army.
“At this point in time” is all I need to hear.
Kinky.
“Craughwell’s win is a victory for democracy”
I don’t think Thomas Byrne knows what that word means.
They need to stop using the world democracy about this. There is nothing democratic about the Senate, the public has no say in electing any of them, it’s no better than the house of lords.
It looks like you don’t know much about it either Mr Slattery in a democracy everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even you should know that.
Was that picture taken today? If so, not a great start to be photographed with those two muppets!
Oh I see David Norris there, correction 3 muppets!
I heard Gerard on the radio saying it was the best moment of his life, being elected to the Seanad. Seriously? He’s elected to a toothless, useless talking shop and he regards it as the high point of his career? He’d wield more influence were he to be elected as chairperson of his local sewing circle. At least there he’d get to do something useful.
Good luck to Gerard. He sounds like a man of principle and an all round decent skin.
I smell the blood of a FF man. My goodness back to the future so soon. So sad for our children whose future we fecked up by letting the economy wreckers into government. Can’t believe we are back to the future so soon.
Hugh,
Gerard’s campaign wasn’t controversial. Your first paragraph suggests that. I don get your intended point though.
O yes but what about the big salary he will get for doing nothing
have your say