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Comic's free toy banned in airport security crack-down
011203 MAR 10
By Ananova
One of the UK's most popular comics has been taken off the shelves at an
airport as part of a security crack-down.
Security staff have ordered copies of The Dandy - made famous by cowboy
Desperate Dan - to be withdrawn from Birmingham International Airport because
a free toy gun is being given away.
The bright blue-and-yellow plastic "punch-gun" toy was attached to hundreds
of copies of this week's issue, and the airport fear it could be used as a
weapon to hijack a plane.
The Dandy's publishers have branded the decision "a hysterical over-reaction"
after security officers said the cheap plastic toy was not suitable for sale
within the airport terminal.
The toy gun was free with the 65p comic, which sells about 250,000 copies
nationally. It features a bright blue clenched fist which extends out to
"punch" its intended victim.
A spokesman for Dundee-based publishers DC Thomson said: "It's obviously a
toy and nothing more.
"It might be mildly irritating if a kid fired it at your head over and over,
but it's hardly a weapon of mass destruction.
"I don't think a terrorist would get very far if he tried to hijack a plane
with a free toy from The Dandy.
"I know they have to be strict about security at airports but this ruling is
just ridiculous. It's a hysterical over-reaction."
Airport spokesman Brian Conway said they were simply following the Department
of Transport's security guidelines.
011203 MAR 10
By Ananova
One of the UK's most popular comics has been taken off the shelves at an
airport as part of a security crack-down.
Security staff have ordered copies of The Dandy - made famous by cowboy
Desperate Dan - to be withdrawn from Birmingham International Airport because
a free toy gun is being given away.
The bright blue-and-yellow plastic "punch-gun" toy was attached to hundreds
of copies of this week's issue, and the airport fear it could be used as a
weapon to hijack a plane.
The Dandy's publishers have branded the decision "a hysterical over-reaction"
after security officers said the cheap plastic toy was not suitable for sale
within the airport terminal.
The toy gun was free with the 65p comic, which sells about 250,000 copies
nationally. It features a bright blue clenched fist which extends out to
"punch" its intended victim.
A spokesman for Dundee-based publishers DC Thomson said: "It's obviously a
toy and nothing more.
"It might be mildly irritating if a kid fired it at your head over and over,
but it's hardly a weapon of mass destruction.
"I don't think a terrorist would get very far if he tried to hijack a plane
with a free toy from The Dandy.
"I know they have to be strict about security at airports but this ruling is
just ridiculous. It's a hysterical over-reaction."
Airport spokesman Brian Conway said they were simply following the Department
of Transport's security guidelines.
.
