Tributes have poured in for the “Secret Hero” who tackled a terrorist to the ground at Glasgow Aiport. He died last week following a battle with cancer. Stephen Clarkson was one of three civilians who helped to foil the 2007 terror attack at one of Scotland’s biggest international airports.
The builder had been picking up relatives from the airport when two suicide bombers drove a blazing jeep filled with petrol and gas canisters into the terminal building. Kafeel Ahmed, one of the crazed attackers, exited the car in flames after dousing himself in petrol. He attempted to detonate his vehicle’s cargo outside the terminal. But before he had the chance, the heroic Scotsman swooped in to save the day.
One of the terrorists fought off police officers and attmpted to open the car’s boot before Stephen brought him to the floor in an amazing act of bravery.
His brother David told BBC Scotland News: “We’d been working nearby and he said he’d be away half an hour. Later, he phoned me to say why he was late back and said, ‘I think I’ve just decked a suicide bomber.’”
Stephen died on Sunday at the age of 59 following a five-month battle with cancer, David told the Scottish Sun. The grieving brother shared how Stephen did not want this information getting out.
He told the outlet: “Stevie always put everybody else ahead of himself. He worked with me for years fitting driveways and I would tell clients my brother was one of the Glasgow Airport heroes.
“But he’d get embarrassed and ask me not to tell anybody. I was so proud of him and it won us loads of business. I think that he was proud too — but he’d never let on.”
Later in life, David remembers how Stephen was very ill and left the house for the last time.
“He told us he wanted us to put a line on a horse at the bookies for him,” he said.
“One time he won £500 on a race by picking a horse with a name he liked — it was Secret Hero,” he added.
Stephen received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery following his heroic actions at Glasgow Airport, as did three other civilians who helped stop the terrorists in their tracks. They include Alex McIlveen, Michael Kerr and John ‘Smeato’ Smeaton.
Police said at the time: “A car is on fire at the entrance to the terminal and there is considerable smoke damage to the terminal. The terminal has been evacuated as a result of this and all flights have now been suspended. This is the start of the busy summer holiday period, although Saturdays are less busy than week days.
“But this will cause disruption and our advice to passengers is to check with their airline to establish if their flight will be operating.”
Ian Crosby, an eye-witness, said told the BBC:”There was smoke coming from inside of the back seats.
“Immediately I realised this was a terrorist attack. Somebody had planned this. This was no accident.”
Two men were later arrested thanks to Stephen and the other three civilian’s actions actions.
The terrorists had tried and failed to set off two car bombs in central London the previous night.
Stephen Clarkson’s funeral will take place at Craigton cemetery on March 21.
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