A man who was apparently angered at being asked to remove his belt in order to get through a metal detector at an airport proceeded to express his outrage in the strangest of ways — by getting totally naked and sending his clothes through the checkpoint conveyor. It happened at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Security cameras caught the entire incident . After being asked to remove his belt, the footage shows the young man first taking off his shoes. He then removes his belt, his pants, then his shirt, and lastly his watch, according to My FOX NY . He did leave his socks on, however. He does this in no particular hurry as travelers walk by, some looking, but business carries on as usual. The man then walks through the metal detector while airport security guards patiently keep their eyes on him, some standing together as though they are not sure what he may do next. He then slowly and calmly redresses and goes on about his business, with nobody stopping him.
Police of St. Petersburg are reportedly investigating the incident, although security personnel at the scene didn’t seem too bothered by the man’s antics and nobody was injured. He also didn’t set off the metal detector and was apparently allowed to board the plane.
While people may view this as strange, comical or scary, it is not particularly unique.
This incident, which took place abroad, is not the first time a traveler has ended up naked at an airport. In 2012, a United States citizen, an Oregon man, refused to go through the Portland International Airport’s body scanners.
John E. Brennan, 49, felt he was being harassed by the TSA, and decided to protest the scanner by stripping off all his clothes and attempting to pass by security completely naked, as reported by the Huffington Post . Brennan was arrested and booked in the Multnomah County Jail.
Although many feel their civil rights have been compromised since heightened airport security began as a result of terrorist activity stemming from September 11, 2001, few have chosen to take nudity as a protest route. There have been those who refuse body scans, and that has been handled in multiple ways, from denying the customer access to the flight, to having them patted down or strip searched in private. While many have expressed outrage at what they feel is an invasion of privacy, many others feel this is a necessary means to an end in order to keep all passengers safe in light of terroristic activity on planes.
Readers, what do you think about this man’s choice to get naked in response to being asked to remove his belt?
[image via tvnz.com]