A would-be suicide bomber caused mayhem at Gatwick when a hand grenade was found in his luggage during a routine customs search, the Old Bailey heard.

But Hazil Rahaman-Alan, 39, was not a terrorist and nor could his grenade explode as the detonator was missing.

Its discovery closed the airport's busy North Terminal for six hours, said Nicholas Dean QC, prosecuting.

Venuzaelan Rahaman-Alan was remanded for a psychiatric report yesterday after he admitted having an M26 hand grenade between January 1 and February 13, 2003, with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury in the UK.

He also pleaded guilty to having a dangerous article, the hand grenade, on the plane.

He told police he wanted to blow himself up in an open area, possibly a park, to draw attention to the plight of others.

Rahaman-Alan said he had intended to attract the attention of the authorities and the media.

He was going through customs at Gatwick when he was "fortunately stopped."

A knee brace and a box containing a knee massager were put through an X-ray machine, revealing the grenade.

Rahaman-Alan will appear for sentence on May 20.

Deportation papers have been served on him and he was remanded in custody.