Man arrested after storming plane at Mauritania airport

A man breached airport security and boarded an empty aircraft

F9913A The new airport of Nouakchott-Oumtounsy will open in 2016, Mauritania. Alamy
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A man who reportedly holds a US passport was arrested on Thursday after storming an empty plane at Mauritania's Nouakchott International Airport, the Mauritanian News Agency said.

The man threatened to set fire to an aircraft belonging to the Mauritanian Aviation Authority.

There were no passengers on board at the time of the incident and it was not immediately clear how the man managed to breach airport security, an official told AP.

The government news agency said the suspect had identified himself as an American who “had problems with Mauritania”.

The airport was evacuated and a security cordon was established around the plane as authorities responded to the situation, Sahara Media reported.

The man was detained by authorities.

The security breach is the first of its kind since Nouakchott’s airport was inaugurated in 2016, officials said.