A Swedish tourist was detained after explosives were found in his luggage at an airport in Thailand.

Marco Erik Pikkarainen, 58, left the suitcase at the Udon Thani International Airport in northern Thailand before boarding a flight to Bangkok.

But the lone case sparked panic, and a bomb disposal squad was sent to scan the container. Shockingly, it is said to have contained the powerful explosive substance triacetone triperoxide, or acetone peroxide.

Footage shows the military securing the area as they neutralised the bomb threat on April 17 in the northeast region.

Police Colonel Phattanawong Chanphon, superintendent of the local station, said the package was found in Terminal 2.

He said: 'The officers inspected the items and made an announcement to locate the owner before checking security cameras, which confirmed the baggage belonged to the Swede.'  

The bomb squad scanned the suitcase and allegedly detected triacetone triperoxide, which is used to make explosives. Sniffer dogs were brought in to scour the airport, which was emptied of visitors.

Inside the bag, the authorities found used clothes and dried herbs.  

Officers arrested the holidaymaker when his flight with low-cost carrier AirAsia touched down at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

They questioned Pikkarainen, but he was allegedly 'uncooperative' and he was detained while the investigation continued.

He later said that his friend had helped organise his bag for travelling back to Sweden. He said he decided to leave the baggage behind after discovering some issues.

Airport chiefs claim the substance may have contaminated some of the items in the case.

Airport director Tippawan Wangsanuwat said: ‘The detection of explosive precursors might have come from the passenger's clothes.

‘He may have been in a place containing explosive substances or entertainment venues with sound and lighting, possibly using firecrackers or rockets.'

The tourist was later released and allowed to return to his homeland in Europe.