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Third arrest in Heathrow security pass fraud investigation Third arrest in Heathrow security pass fraud investigation
(12 days later)
A third woman has been arrested in an investigation into possible fraudulent use of security passes at Heathrow airport.A third woman has been arrested in an investigation into possible fraudulent use of security passes at Heathrow airport.
Two women are already in custody and the passes of some 300 employees were suspended by the catering firm Sodexo, after police began an inquiry into the vetting process for airside passes.Two women are already in custody and the passes of some 300 employees were suspended by the catering firm Sodexo, after police began an inquiry into the vetting process for airside passes.
The Metropolitan police announced the arrest in a statement on Thursday afternoon, confirming that a 28-year-old woman from Ealing is now in custody at a west London police station. There is no suggestion that the investigation is related to terrorism, the statement also said.The Metropolitan police announced the arrest in a statement on Thursday afternoon, confirming that a 28-year-old woman from Ealing is now in custody at a west London police station. There is no suggestion that the investigation is related to terrorism, the statement also said.
Related: Heathrow staff security passes suspended during police investigation
Detectives arrested the two other women from Surrey, aged 20 and 24, on suspicion of fraud and money laundering on 3 August.Detectives arrested the two other women from Surrey, aged 20 and 24, on suspicion of fraud and money laundering on 3 August.
But the inquiry, which began as a fraud investigation, then expanded into looking into how airside passes were handed out. The passes allow baggage handlers, flight crews, shop and restaurant workers and other staff to access restricted areas beyond airport security.But the inquiry, which began as a fraud investigation, then expanded into looking into how airside passes were handed out. The passes allow baggage handlers, flight crews, shop and restaurant workers and other staff to access restricted areas beyond airport security.
When the investigation was first announced on Wednesday, Scotland Yard said that there was no indication that the passes had been sold on. However, Sodexo decided to suspend the passes of 300 of its cleaners and caterers who work at Heathrow as a precaution.When the investigation was first announced on Wednesday, Scotland Yard said that there was no indication that the passes had been sold on. However, Sodexo decided to suspend the passes of 300 of its cleaners and caterers who work at Heathrow as a precaution.
Airport security has been under the spotlight in recent months after Islamic State carried out attacks on Brussels airport earlier this year. It is also thought that the terror organisation smuggled a bomb on to a Russian jet which crashed in October, bringing it down over the Sinai peninsula and killing all on board.Airport security has been under the spotlight in recent months after Islamic State carried out attacks on Brussels airport earlier this year. It is also thought that the terror organisation smuggled a bomb on to a Russian jet which crashed in October, bringing it down over the Sinai peninsula and killing all on board.
After the Heathrow arrests were first made public, a spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “We are aware of this issue. Safety and security of passengers is our priority.After the Heathrow arrests were first made public, a spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “We are aware of this issue. Safety and security of passengers is our priority.
“We keep aviation security under constant review, but as this matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation we are unable to comment further at this time.”“We keep aviation security under constant review, but as this matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation we are unable to comment further at this time.”