One year on: The men who foiled the Glasgow Airport terror attack

Jun 29 2008 Billy Paterson

IT was the day the horrifying reality of global terrorism was hammered home to every Scot as bombers drove a blazing Jeep into Glasgow Airport, which was packed with holidaymakers. One year on, BILLY PATERSON catches up with some of the homegrown heroes who bravely tackled the terrorists.

  

STEVIE JACK

FOR Stevie Jack, defusing the terrorist bombs at Glasgow Airport was "just another day in the office".

He has just come home after six months in Afghanistan blowing up Taliban missiles.

But a year ago he played a pivotal role in foiling the plot to murder hundreds of Scots holidaymakers.

By a miracle only the alleged bombers were seriously hurt as their Jeep full of gas canisters failed to explode.

Stevie, 34, from Inverkeithing, Fife, said: "I was on duty at the Royal Logistics Corps Edinburgh Troop when I was tasked through to Glasgow in the morning to assist the police.

"We get called out all the time - it could be a suspect postal device or something suspicious washed up on a beach...anything.

"But it was fortunate I was in Glasgow when it kicked off. I was there by 3.15pm and made the Jeep explosively safe by 9pm. It was probably the most significant incident I have had to deal with.

"But we were just doing what we were trained to do."

Stevie's role did not end there. He also had to dispose of a suspicious device at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, and carry out controlled explosions on two cars there two days later.

He said: "It was a long three days - I think I had about three hours sleep."

His role in Afghanistan was conventional munitions disposal operator.

Stevie said: "It has changed from a conventional war to one in which we are facing intensive explosive devices and roadside bombs.

"It is tough, but you have to keep the morale high."

Last October Stevie was one of 11 airport heroes to receive a Sunday Mail Great Scot Award in recognition of their actions.

  

STEWART FERGUSON

AN unforgettable image was the Sunday Mail front page of PC Stewart Ferguson hosing down a terrorist.

Stewart, 41, said some onlookers told him to let the man burn.

The Paisley cop said: "I did know he was one of the bad guys, but it didn't enter my consciousness to walk away.

"One of the primary duties of a police officer is to preserve life. It doesn't matter whose life."

  

JOHN SMEATON

THE former baggage handler shot to global fame after his live TV account about kicking one of the bombers.

"Smeato" hopes to settle with girlfriend, Christy McPhedran, 31, in New York where he plans a career as an after-dinner speaker.

Humble John, 32, said: "There's no more relunctant hero than me. I'm bewildered by how it has all turned out."

  

ALEX McILVEEN

TAXI driver Alex tore a tendon kicking burning Kafeel Ahmed in the airport drama.

Campaigners want Alex, 45, and fellow heroes Stephen Clarkson and Michael Kerr to receive a medal like John Smeaton, who got the Queens Gallantry Award for bravery.

A Cabinet spokesman said last week that the George Cross Committeemay reconsider the case for medals for the three.

  

TORQUIL CAMPBELL

ANOTHER policeman who tackled the bombers, Sergeant Torquil Campbell, has retired after 30 years.

The 49-year-old became a hero again in January when he foiled a raid on singer Darius Danesh's grandad's home in Renfrew.

The crooks sprayed him in the face with corrosive liquid and six months on he still has blurred vision which may need surgery.