A FAKE terror warning at Pamplona's famous Sanfermines bull-running festival has landed an Algerian national in jail.
In a lightning-quick hearing, the accused has already been awarded a two-month suspended sentence and a 16-month ban on entering the Navarra regional capital city after his stunt five days ago.
Just before the firework display, when tens of thousands of tourists and locals were gathered on the streets, the offender made a show of dropping a rucksack and a bag on the ground, lifting his hand with an unidentified object in it, and shouting Allah-u Akbar ('Allah is great') followed by several other loud declarations in Arabic.
A crush ensued as hundreds of people panicked and tried to flee, fearing an attack of the type recently seen in Manchester and London.
The accused was pinned down by an off-duty regional police officer.
It turned out the item in his hand was a cigarette lighter, but upon further inspection of his bag and rucksack, it was found they did not contain anything dangerous.
His suspended sentence for causing public disturbance has been swapped for a daily fine of €8 over four months, or a total of €960.
The court considers his actions carried the intention or, at least, the full knowledge that they would 'provoke widespread panic and anxiety' among the general public.
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