Police: Suspect Claims Tie To Al-Qaida But May Be Mentally Unstable POSTED: 10:25 a.m. EST November 27, 2002 UPDATED: 12:34 p.m. EST November 27, 2002 LYON, France -- A man claiming to be an al-Qaida member and carrying what he said was a bomb was arrested Wednesday after trying to hijack an Italian airliner, police said. The Alitalia jet, flying from Bologna, Italy, to Paris, France, was diverted to the southern French city of Lyon. It is unclear whether the alleged hijacker forced the plane to land there or whether it was the pilot's decision. French authorities say it's not the first hijacking attempt for the man, a former Italian police officer who was kicked off the force for mental problems. They say the man, Stefano Savorani, had also tried to take over a plane in 1999 and once tried to hijack a train. There was no bomb on board, police said. The plane, with at least 57 passengers, landed safely in Lyon, and authorities say Savorani surrendered. Police say the flight was over Switzerland when Savorani stood up, holding a rectangular box, and threatened to blow up the plane. They say he declared, "I belong to an al-Qaida network, I want to make a declaration to the press." Leo/ORD