Two train stations were evacuated, a neighborhood was cordoned off, dozens of police were mobilized and passengers were left stranded after a couple sparked panic in Lille, northern France, today when they complained “suspicious terrorist movements” because he didn’t want to miss his train.

The man, the main suspect, was arrested along with his partner when disembarking from a train traveling from Paris to Lille. According to the authorities, he did not put up any resistance but, with tears in his eyes, admitted that he had pulled the prank with the sole purpose of not missing the train. So he called SNCF, the company that runs the French railways, at around 8.50am to report that there was a “terrorist” on another train. But it was absolutely specific: the alarm concerned the train from Paris to Lille which was expected to arrive at Lille-Flanders station at 09.48 and the authorities took it seriously.

The train in question was driven to Lille-Erop station, which is about one kilometer from Lille-Flanders. The agencies of the Nor district ordered the evacuation of both stations while the entire area was surrounded by men of the special forces. A team of pyrotechnicians also arrived on the scene.

Many buses were forced to modify their routes, while the Lille-Herup metro station was also closed.

Lille-Herup train station remained closed for around three hours. In Lille-Flanders, train traffic resumed within half an hour.

The suspects, aged 27 and 30, were located on their phones. They were on another train bound for Lille, which would arrive in the city at 11.18. Lille prosecutor Carol Etienne said they could face up to two years in prison and a €30,000 fine for making the false complaint.