A man who stole a light aircraft and threatened to crash it into the headquarters of the European Central Bank Sunday terrorized Frankfurt residents for over two hours before giving himself up to police authorities.
Military jets and a police helicopter scrambled after the pilot, at the controls of a small, single-engine plane, began circling over the skyscrapers of continental Europe's financial capital. Two German air force jets roared across the skies as the helicopter attempted to force the plane away from the city.
In a call to NTV news channel, the German-speaking pilot said he had no intention of harming anyone, however intended to commit suicide when his fuel ran out, the Guardian reported.
The main railway station and several high buildings in Frankfurt were evacuated by police who also blocked off the city center to traffic. The airport was shut down and local rail traffic was brought to a halt.
A member of the control tower staff at Frankfurt's Rhine-Main airport said the pilot gave no indication of any terrorist motive. However, she added, he seemed to want to draw attention to one of the American astronauts who died when their Challenger spacecraft exploded shortly after launch in 1986.
"I want to make my great idol, Judith Resnick, famous," he said during his call to NTV.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said the man was arrested as soon as he left the plane. "He had a firearm on him and made an impression of being very confused." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
