Bernie Ecclestone questioned after shotgun found on his private jet in Portugal

Bernie Ecclestone said he bought the gun in England, before taking it to Switzerland and on to Portugal. Photograph: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters View image in fullscreen Bernie Ecclestone said he bought the gun in England, before taking it to Switzerland and on to Portugal. Photograph: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters Bernie Ecclestone questioned after shotgun found on his private jet in Portugal Former F1 chief says firearm was for clay-pigeon shooting Police quiz 95-year-old over lack of documents for gun Bernie Ecclestone was detained in Portugal on Monday after customs authorities found him in possession of an undocumented shotgun. The Guardian has independently confirmed the incident with multiple authorities involved in the matter. The detention of the 95‑year‑old took place at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais, shortly after the former Formula One chief’s private jet landed. After a routine inspection of the aircraft and its passengers, authorities reportedly discovered a shotgun in Ecclestone’s possession. He was stopped for questioning . ‘Like an AI agent’: Wolff hails Antonelli’s Italian GP victory in title charge Under standard procedure in such cases, the firearm is seized and the person found carrying it is formally made a defendant in criminal proceedings. It is not yet known what the outcome of Ecclestone’s case will be. Responding to reports he had been arrested, Ecclestone told the Press Association: “No. The police were very helpful and doing all they could to stop us from having to do what we had to do.” Explaining the events, Ecclestone told PA: “I was going to take part in Portugal in a clay pigeon shooting competition, which I only knew about a few days ago because Fabiana [his wife] met someone when she was coming back from Brazil to Portugal. He said he was entering into a clay pigeon competition. “So she called me and said: ‘There is something here you should go and look at. Why don’t you turn up and join?’ And I said: ‘Well, that wouldn’t be a bad idea.’ … As I have got guns already in Switzerland, which have been imported properly, because we do a bit of clay pigeon shooting there, I brought the gun in with me. “I went through customs and the people know me very well. They said: ‘Anything to declare?’ I said: ‘No, nothing really, just all the usual personal things.’ “So I walked out and, as I got out, one of my people with me said: ‘The police have asked if you would go and see them.’ I went to police and said: ‘What can I do for you?’ And they said: ‘We would like some information on this gun you brought in.’ “I didn’t even unzip the case.