Anonymous caller behind fake bomb alert at Geneva airport

GENEVA - The Associated Press

REUTERS photo

The Geneva prosecutor's office says an anonymous caller set off a false bomb alert that prompted a police sweep at the Swiss city's airport.

Spokesman Henri Della Casa of the prosecutor's office says investigations by French and Swiss authorities led to an unspecified woman behind the call who admitted to the hoax. He said she had claimed "the presence of a person with a bomb at the airport."
     
Earlier Wednesday, Geneva authorities ordered an enhanced police deployment and checked identity papers of people at the airport.
     
On its Facebook page, the Geneva police department said previously that the stepped-up deployment was linked to "information received." Geneva authorities recently enhanced security amid concerns facing many parts of Europe.
     
Traffic in and around the airport was backlogged before the measures were lifted.