Dutch police arrest 14-year-old girl who tweeted alleged al-Qaida threat to American Airlines

4/14/2014

AMSTERDAM — Police in the Netherlands have arrested a 14-year-old girl on suspicion of threatening American Airlines in a tweet.

Police spokesman Roland Ekkers said the girl, who has not been identified for privacy reasons, turned herself in to Rotterdam police in the company of a parent today and is now being interrogated.

The tweet posted Sunday said it came from an al-Qaida member in Afghanistan named Ibrahim and threatened to “do something really big on June 1.” But the account’s handle came with the nickname “Sarah” and a profile image of a young woman.

Apologetic tweets were posted to the account after the airline replied it was taking the threat seriously and calling in law enforcement.

Ekkers said the motive for the tweet is not yet known.