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Mexican police end hijack drama Mexican police end hijack drama
(about 8 hours later)
Mexican police have freed more than 100 passengers unharmed after a jet flying from Cancun to Mexico City was hijacked by a religious fanatic. Mexican police have freed more than 100 people unharmed after a jet flying from Cancun to Mexico City was hijacked by a man claiming to be on a divine mission.
Jose Flores Pereira, a 40-year-old Bolivian, threatened to blow up the Aeromexico plane unless allowed to speak to President Felipe Calderon. Bolivian-born Jose Flores Pereira threatened to blow up the plane unless he could warn Mexican President Felipe Calderon of an "impending earthquake".
He said that he used a can of juice as a fake bomb. Mr Flores told flight attendants that a canned drink he had was a bomb.
Five other people were also detained, but police later said that there had only been one hijacker. Police stormed the Aeromexico plane after it had landed in Mexico City and women and children were allowed off.
Transport Minister Juan Molinar said there had been no bombs on board. Several people were initially arrested and taken away in handcuffs as Mr Flores said he had accomplices, but police later said there had been only one hijacker and no bombs on board.
"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.
The passengers included US and French citizens, a US official told AP news agency.
'Divine revelation''Divine revelation'
Jose Flores Pereira was shown to reporters after he was detained Public Safety Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna said Mr Flores, who told police he was a Protestant pastor, carried out the hijacking after having "a revelation that Mexico was facing a great danger, and was threatened by an earthquake".
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". Jose Flores Pereira was shown to reporters after his arrest
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. 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 was coming in to land.
He told flight attendants that he had three accomplices, "the Father, Son and Holy Ghost". Some of the passengers, who included French and US nationals, said they were not initially aware of what was happening.
Flores had 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.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."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 Garcia said that Mr Flores was a former drug addict, with a conviction for armed robbery in his native Bolivia, who has lived in Mexico for 17 years.
Mr Flores said he had gone to Cancun to preach. He is also a singer. Mr Flores, who is also a singer, said he had gone to Cancun to preach.
"I was a despicable drug addict, but Christ freed me a few years ago," he sings in one video posted on YouTube."I was a despicable drug addict, but Christ freed me a few years ago," he sings in one video posted on YouTube.
Other videos show him shooting at a coin he throws in the air.
'Scary moments''Scary moments'
Mexican armed police stormed the plane and made several arrests Mexican armed police stormed the plane and initially made several arrests
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 President Calderon had been on his way to the airport.
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.
Earlier reports, citing police sources, said it was initially believed the hijackers had explosives taped to their bodies.
Passenger Rocio Garcia told the Televisa TV network that the crew announced the plane was being hijacked when it landed in Mexico City.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."These were scary moments," she said.
"My whole life flashed before me," said another passenger, Maria Fernanda Vega.