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Aditya Verma, a British chess prodigy who made a joke stating: Im Taliban has now been summoned to court in Madrid to stand trial for his reckless actions.

Gifted student Aditya Verma, aged 20, said hed put a bomb on an easyJet flight from the UK to Menorca, adding that he is part of the Taliban. He now faces a 100,000 bill in fines and compensation by the Spanish court, as he is being charged with a public order offence.

Verma is a former star pupil at St Olaves Grammar School in Orpington in Kent, and was embarking on a fun-filled graduation trip with friends to Menorca in the summer of 2022. Using the social media platform Snapchat he wrote to his companions that: Im going to blow this plane up. Im a Taliban., just before the aircraft took off from Gatwick airport on July 3.

This message was picked up by their mobiles on Gatwick airports Wi-Fi servers and immediately triggered alarm bells with security because of the sensitive and potentially life threatening words used.

As soon as the plane landed at its destination, armed policemen were there to meet Aditya and took him away in handcuffs. He then spent two nights in police custody before being presented in front of a judge.

He was released on 8,600 bail and told he was free to leave Spain, but informed that he would continue to be investigated by the Audiencia Nacional.

Since arriving home, Verma has told local news outlets that he regrets his reckless actions, stating that: It was a moment of madness which I regret and Im so sorry for the trouble I caused. It was a joke and I didnt mean anything by it. Im sorry for ruining my friends holiday but it was all just a joke and I didnt mean to scare anyone on the plane if they were frightened by what happened. I thought as it was a private Snapchat that just my friends would see it.

Verma is currently studying economics at Bath University, and although Spanish authorities have confirmed that they are not seeking a prison sentence, his future will surely look very different if he is convicted of the crime.

Many people, including the 20 year olds family, friends and teachers have defended him, expressing that they know he is not a terrorist. Verma publicly stated that: I wont be doing anything silly again. Ive learned my lesson.

However, former Marbella police officer, Juan Lian, told Euro Weekly News that the defendant is old enough to know better, adding that he now needs to learn that there are consequences to actions, and that terrorism is something he should not joke about. What if one of those rescue jets had crashed? His joke could have cost lives.

His fate at his trial on Monday, January 22 2024, will be decided by a single professional judge and not a jury.

So, what is the publics verdict? An innocent joke that spiralled out of control, or a young man that should have known better, and should be punished for his stupidity?

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Should chess prodigy pay for 'bomb threat' joke? - Euro Weekly News