Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was arrested for attempting to board a flight with a gun in Brazil on Wednesday, police have confirmed.
Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone was arrested for attempting to board a flight illegally carrying a gun in Brazil on Wednesday, police have confirmed. The 91-year-old intended to fly to Switzerland on a private jet.
According to a statement, the Brazil police found an undocumented LW Seecamp .32 gun in Ecclestone's luggage during an X-ray screening. The British business magnate was arrested and taken to a facility at Viracopos airport in Campinas.
Though Ecclestone acknowledged owning the gun, he added, being unaware it was in his luggage. The ex-F1 boss paid bail and was free to travel to Switzerland.
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According to reports, Ecclestone, married to Brazilian-born Fabiana, attended several events in the South American country this month, including a local Stock Car race in the countryside near Sao Paulo and a meeting with triple world champion Nelson Piquet in Brasilia. Mrs Ecclestone is an FIA vice-president and a World Motor Sport Council member.
Ecclestone's arrest for illegally carrying a gun has sparked massive outrage on Twitter, with several users posting memes to mock the former F1 boss. Here's a look at some of the reactions:
