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Paul Chambers Arrested For Terror Tweet About Doncaster Airport

by Yuliya Talmazan | January 18, 2010 at 12:22 pm

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Paul Chambers, a Twitter user from England, has been arrested under Terrorism Act a week after he Tweeted about Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster. Chambers's flight was delayed due to snow, so he Tweeted in frustration, "Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your s--- together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!"

A week later, British police arrested Chambers at his office, citing his Tweet as a terrorism threat. Chambers was allegedly questioned for seven hours. Chambers claims he had to explain the purpose of Twitter to the police who said they have never heard of it. Chambers insisted that his Tweet was just a joke. Despite his pleas, Chambers was suspended from work and received a lifetime ban from Doncaster Airport. His iPhone and laptop were also confiscated. Chambers is currently out on bail until February 11, after which it will be decided if he is going to be charged with terrorism threat. It remains a mystery who told on Chambers and alerted the police.

I had never have thought, in a thousand years, that any of this would have happened because of a Twitter post," ... "I'm the most mild-mannered guy you could imagine"

But, Chambers seems to have learned his lesson, and his Tweets are now protected. To see them, one needs to send a request.

What is your take? An over-reaction by the police or a measured response in the wake of recent threats and security breaches?

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Jordan Yerman

at 12:25 on January 18th, 2010

To me, the most disturbing element of the story is that Chambers had to explain Twitter to the cops who came by his house... the cops found the tweet, and they didn't do any research into the page that held it? That's just lazy.

Stacy Reeds (not verified)

at 13:22 on January 18th, 2010

Considering recent events relating to terrorism threats i think this is absolutely deserved! The police cant win if they don't act on things like this they pay for it when the public slates them but they do act and look into these things and follow procedures and they're in the wrong and over reacting. What kind of idiot would put something like this on a site like twitter and not realise it would have some sort of reaction. Personally i think it was totally irresponsible and Paul got everything he deserved. He will certainly think twice next time...

stejeb

at 14:00 on January 18th, 2010

They seem to react extremely quickly, and with great gusto when there is no threat, and do sod all when there is.....

I really think the police forces charged with protecting security at airports need some training to differentiate between real threats, and tweets, or other attempts at humour by pissed-off passengers, while they're messing about with a tweeter the real threats slip by....and I know there will be some who will say "precisely, lock the jokers up", but for goodness sake, are these trained anti-terrorist police, or are they just bored in Doncaster airport.............

webmojo

at 05:18 on March 24th, 2010

I think there needs to be a little common sense, it's obvious that this was not a serious threat and maybe a quiet word from a police officer would have done the job rather then arresting the man and wasting tax payers money