Express & Star

Police confirm man seized at Glasgow Airport is not French fugitive

Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes is wanted over the death of his wife and four children in 2011.

Published
Last updated
Glasgow Airport

A man was mistakenly arrested at Glasgow Airport over suspicions he was a French fugitive accused of killing his wife and four children, police have said.

A French police spokesman told The Associated Press that French and Scottish investigators have determined the fingerprints of the man detained on Friday do not match those of missing suspect Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes.

The de Ligonnes family disappeared in April 2011. Police later discovered five bodies with gunshot wounds buried outside their home in the western city of Nantes.

Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes was the only family member never found, and became the chief suspect.

French police have been searching for him ever since.

In a statement, Police Scotland said the man was arrested at Glasgow Airport on Friday “following information provided to police” and has since been released.

The force said: “He was held in police custody in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by the French authorities.

“Inquiries were undertaken to confirm the man’s identity. Following the results of these tests it has been confirmed that the man arrested is not the man suspected of crimes in France.

“The man has since been released.”

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.