Sudanese man appears in court after Heathrow arrest

LONDON, Jan 16, 2004 (AP) — A Sudanese man appeared in court Friday accused of carrying live ammunition on a flight from Washington to London’s Heathrow Airport.

Wassila Alhibr Alwasila, 45, was charged with possessing ammunition when he appeared before Bow Street Magistrates’ Court in central London. He was ordered to remain in custody until a further hearing on Jan. 23.

Alwasila was arrested Wednesday at Heathrow after arriving on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Washington’s Dulles International Airport. He is charged with two counts of possessing ammunition under the Firearms Act and with possession of dangerous articles on an airplane, contrary to the Aviation and Security Act.

London’s Metropolitan Police has refused to say what type of ammunition Alwasila is alleged to have been carrying, but a spokeswoman said Friday that the ammunition was live.

Airport security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that five bullets were discovered when Alwasila passed through the security checkpoint at Heathrow.

Officers arrested him under the Firearms Act and under a provision of 2000 anti-terrorism legislation. But a police spokeswoman said Friday that he was no longer being investigated for alleged terrorist offenses.