London: One of the nine Afghans involved in a hijacking eight years ago was arrested after he was found working at Heathrow airport as a cleaner, it emerged today.

Nazamuddin Mohammidy (34) was one of a group who took over an internal Afghan flight in 2000 and landed it in the UK, where they threatened to kill those on board unless they were granted asylum.

Now it has emerged Mohammidy was recently arrested while driving a car around the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport.

Police suspected he was an unlicensed cab driver but were stunned when checks revealed he was one of the hijackers. He even had a British Airways pass on him.

British Airways spokesman said Mohammidy did not work inside the airport and did not have an airside pass.

"We have been helping the police with their inquiries into a man who is employed by our cleaning contractors. He does not work at the airport and does not hold an airside pass. He works at one of our properties about a mile away."

Metropolitan police said the Afghan has been arrested at Heathrow and "is going to appear in court. He has been charged with bodily assault and was in breach of bail."

Mohammidy was among the gang, which claimed they were fleeing the Taliban and took over an Ariana airlines jet on an internal flight in Afghanistan in February 2000 armed with firearms and hand grenades.

The Boeing 727,with 160 passengers on board, was diverted to Stansted Airport in Essex. There the hijackers kept police and Special Armed Squad marksmen at bay for four days before giving themselves up.

Source : PTI