German airport suspends flights after car drives through gate
A man drove a car through the security perimeter at Hannover Airport in northern Germany on Saturday, police said, prompting authorities to suspend flights for more than four hours. Officials said no one was injured.
Police said the man was under the influence of drugs when he drove the Poland-registered car through a gate and onto the apron, German news agency dpa reported. They said the man tried to follow a landing plane operated by Greek airline Aegean.
Police cars stopped the vehicle and officers overpowered the driver. Bomb disposal experts examined the car but found no dangerous objects. The incident took place just more than a week after police said they were tightening airport security over terrorism fears, BBC News reported.
Federal police said the man's motive was unclear but there was no indication so far the incident was terror-related. They believe he acted alone.
Take-offs and landings of planes resumed shortly after 8 p.m.
Federal police said the driver, who is in his mid-20s, tested positive for amphetamines and cocaine. Police said they couldn't give further information on where he came from because he wasn't carrying an identity card. The international airport in Hannover handled 5.87 million passengers last year, though it isn't one of Germany's top hubs.
