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Mexican police end hijack drama Mexican police end hijack drama
(about 4 hours later)
Mexican police have arrested at least six hijackers who seized a passenger jet flying from Cancun to Mexico City. Mexican police have freed more than 100 passengers unharmed after a jet flying from Cancun to Mexico City was hijacked by a religious fanatic.
More than 100 passengers and crew on board the AeroMexico Boeing 737 were released unharmed, officials confirmed. Jose Flores Pereira, a 40-year-old Bolivian, threatened to blow up the Aeromexico plane unless allowed to speak to President Felipe Calderon.
Mexican media reported the hijackers threatened to blow the plane up unless they were allowed to speak to President Felipe Calderon. He said that he used a can of juice as a fake bomb.
One of the hijackers was reported to be a religious fanatic from Bolivia who believed he was on a divine mission. Five other people were also detained, but police later said that there had only been one hijacker.
TV pictures showed the suspected hijackers being led away from the plane at Mexico City airport in handcuffs. Transport Minister Juan Molinar said there had been no bombs on board.
Transport minister Juan Molinar said there had been no bombs on board.
"The passengers are safe. There was no bomb," he said."The passengers are safe. There was no bomb," he said.
"Various people who participated in the act have been detained and we are investigating," he said."Various people who participated in the act have been detained and we are investigating," he said.
The passengers included US and French citizens, a US official told AP news agency.The passengers included US and French citizens, a US official told AP news agency.
'Divine revelation''Divine revelation'
Mr Molinar did not give details of the hijackers, initially said to be three Bolivians. Reports said they were seeking political asylum in Mexico and had demanded to speak with President Calderon. Jose Flores Pereira was shown to reporters after he was detained
Public Safety Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna said the hijacking had been masterminded by Mr Flores who had "had a revelation that Mexico was facing a great danger, and was threatened by an earthquake".
Mr Flores told reporters after his arrest that he had used "a juice can with some little lights I attached" to seize control of the plane as it landed at Mexico City.
He told flight attendants that he had three accomplices, "the Father, Son and Holy Ghost".
He said that he acted on 9 September 2009, because the numbers 9/9/9 were the inverse of 6/6/6, the number linked to the Anti-Christ.
"Christ is coming soon," Mr Flores told journalists.
Mr Garcia said that Mr Flores was a former drug addict, with a conviction for armed robbery in his native Bolivia. He has lived in Mexico for 17 years.
Mr Flores said he had gone to Cancun to preach. He is also a singer.
"I was a despicable drug addict, but Christ freed me a few years ago," he sings in one video posted on YouTube.
'Scary moments'
Mexican armed police stormed the plane and made several arrestsMexican armed police stormed the plane and made several arrests
But Public Safety Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna said the hijacking had been masterminded by a 44-year-old Bolivian man who had "had a revelation that Mexico was facing a great danger, and was threatened by an earthquake". An official told the BBC while the hijacking was taking place that Mr Calderon had been on his way to the airport.
An official told the BBC while the hijacking was taking place that Mr Calderon had been on his way to the airport, but it is not clear if he made contact with the hijackers.
Mexican media broadcast live images of the drama unfolding as the plane sat at the end of the runway and passengers were seen disembarking and being led away.Mexican media broadcast live images of the drama unfolding as the plane sat at the end of the runway and passengers were seen disembarking and being led away.
Some minutes later, at least six handcuffed men were seen being taken from the plane by armed police and driven away.Some minutes later, at least six handcuffed men were seen being taken from the plane by armed police and driven away.
Earlier reports, citing police sources, said it was initially believed the hijackers had explosives taped to their bodies.Earlier reports, citing police sources, said it was initially believed the hijackers had explosives taped to their bodies.
Mr Molinar said one of the hijackers held a package that some passengers believed resembled an explosive device. Passenger Rocio Garcia told the Televisa TV network that the crew announced the plane was being hijacked when it landed in Mexico City.
It was not clear at what point in the flight the hijacking took place, although passenger Rocio Garcia told the Televisa TV network that the crew announced the plane was being hijacked when it landed in Mexico City. "These were scary moments," she said.

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