Just want to hear stories so I can mentally prepare myself for such… hostile… interactions… (Hopefully this never happens to me)
P.S: And before anyone start spamming “Don’t Consent to searches”, remember that that’s a very democracy-centric viewpoint. In some countries you could be jailed for refusing.
Never searched other than at airports security check.
But I have been questioned by airport security guards outside the airport.
I was at my favourite photo spot by the airport, it was evening, late summer in Sweden, there had been an gorgeous sunset, with aircrafts landing directly into the sunset.
Anyway, I was almost done and wanted to take a few more photos of the next aircraft coming into land.
The photo spot I was at was outside the fence but among the approach lights, it is a very popular spot to watch aircraft.
Anyway, as I am standing there with my camera on a tripod, waiting for the next plane, I see two small cars with emergency lights comming from opposite ends of the road, stopping by the barrier to stop cars from driving up among the lights, two guards approach me.
And I stand there, overweight, wearing a linnen shirt and linnen shorts, with a camera on a tripod, and before they could say anything, I just asked innocently “Hi, have I done something wrong?”.
They were clearly not really sure and responded in a slightly sheepish tone “We are not really sure…”
I explained that I was just about to take some last photos before heading back to the bus to go home.
There wasn’t much more to say, I packed up my things and walked back to the bus stop.
Second to last time I visited Spain, I was selected randomly for an extra check at the airport as I was traveling home to Sweden, they swabbed my jacket and my backpack, they were perfectly polite and professional.