Australian trio arrested in Bolivia accused of trying to board flight to Brazil with 'explosives'

Date November 20, 2015 - 11:08PM
Lia Timson and Liam Mannix

Three young Australians apparently on the holiday of a lifetime have been arrested at a Bolivian international airport after explosives were found in one of the men's backpack.

Australians Julian Giovanni Vicenzo Musumeci, 24, Justin Maurice Kwong Wei Sun, 25, and Liam Mark Eales, 25, were reported by Bolivian and Brazilian news outlets as being held in custody in Bolivia awaiting a judge's orders after their arrest last week. It is understood two of the men have now been released but remain in Bolivia, while the remaining man awaits trial, according to Liam Eales' father, Geoff.

A photo published by several Bolivian media outlets showing the backpack and contents Bolivian police said could be used as a homemade explosive device. The trio were stopped on November 12 at Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de La Sierra, while waiting to board flight G3 7601 to South America's busiest airport, Guarulhos, in Sao Paulo. Brazilian authorities are on high alert before the 2016 Olympics.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra confirmed DFAT was providing consular assistance to three Australians arrested in Bolivia and said "due to privacy reasons we will not be making further comment".

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/world/australian-trio-arrested-in-bolivia-accused-of-trying-to-board-flight-to-brazil-with-explosives-20151119-gl3l7j.html#ixzz3s7vlfC00