Ex-policeman detained for Warsaw metro bomb hoax

Reuters:

WARSAW, July 14 (Reuters) - A former Polish policeman was detained on Thursday suspected of triggering a false bomb alert in Warsaw's underground in the wake of deadly blasts in London last week.

Police identified the suspect as Jacek K. and said he served as a policeman in the 1990s. If convicted, the 44-year-old faces up to eight years in jail.

The suspect used a pre-paid mobile phone to call an emergency number to set off the alarm, which led to a full-scale evacuation of the underground on Tuesday, police said.

"We have detained the person responsible for the false alarm. The prosecutor's office will take care of further steps," said police spokeswoman Alicja Hytrek.

Warsaw was hit by several more bomb hoaxes on Wednesday and police said they were checking whether he was involved in those as well.

Poland had heightened security at train and bus stations, airports and the underground after last Thursday's attacks on London's transport system which killed at least 52 people.

Alongside Britain, Poland is part of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, where it has about 1,700 soldiers.