A senior British army officer has been charged after allegedly carrying a decommissioned hand grenade through Scotland’s busiest airport.

Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Clark, 54, is accused of passing through security at Edinburgh Airport on October 16 with a deactivated explosive.

A bomb squad was called to the scene and the object, a fake grenade used in training according to reports, was deemed “non-viable and posed no threat.”

He was then released and will appear in court at a later date.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At around 8.05am on Wednesday October 16, police were called by Edinburgh Airport security after a decommissioned munitions device was discovered during the analysis of a passenger’s hand luggage.

“A 54-year-old man was arrested and charged and released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.”

An Army spokesperson said: “A service member was involved in a security incident at Edinburgh Airport on October 16.

“As the matter is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, we will not make further comment.”

The Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service have been contacted for comment.