A knife-wielding man wore spiked armbands he claimed were tipped with snake venom when he chased his estranged wife through Brisbane airport before pulling a fake bomb from a suitcase.
Gamal Elsaied Elboushi has pleaded guilty to a string of charges related to the 2019 incident, which prompted "mass panic" as the airport was evacuated.
The 52-year-old was also carrying a gas mask when he smuggled the knife and fake bomb into the airport inside a suitcase to "uphold the facade" he was travelling, crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso has told a Brisbane court.
Elboushi - an award-winning cinematographer - threatened to stab himself to death and told police he was happy to die that day.
He wore wristbands into which he had inserted needles - poking outwards - warning police they contained snake venom.
Elboushi also told officers he had a mask in case they used gas to subdue him.
His actions on February 2, 2019, prompted mass panic, with people fleeing Brisbane International Airport's food court, Ms Kelso told the Brisbane District Court on Monday.
But the offending will have a "grave and long-lasting impact" for his ex-wife and daughters.
Ms Kelso said the educated and mature man had gone to great effort to "effectively ambush his family" at the airport.
His actions weren't on the spur-of-the-moment.
He disguised his vehicle so they would not be alerted to his presence if he arrived before them.
"He also went to considerable effort to firstly acquire, and then create, a realistic bomb, something that he had some confidence in doing given his previous employment in the movie arena," Ms Kelso said.
"He must have known the fear and terror that his acts would cause."
But defence barrister Angus Edwards said Elboushi's actions, while appalling, were not malicious.
"He was too absorbed in his own emotional pain," Mr Edwards told the court.
Elboushi surrendered peacefully to police after about 90 minutes, although it was another two hours before airport operations returned to normal.
During that time, 16 departing and arriving aircraft were delayed, costing the airport more than $1 million.
Officers also evacuated part of a Surfers Paradise building when Elboushi said there was a second device in a car. That too was found to be a hoax.
Mr Edwards said Elboushi moved from Egypt to Australia in 2011, but could only get work as a security officer despite having accolades and awards for his work in the film industry.
Brisbane District Court Judge Sheridan will sentence Elboushi on Tuesday.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
