Warsaw airport requires Israeli musician to remove strings from cello because they are ‘too dangerous’

Amit Peled was leaving the country after appearing with the Warsaw Philharmonic.

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(JTA) — An Israeli cellist had the strings of his instrument confiscated at the airport in Warsaw after employees determined they were “too dangerous” to take on board with him.

Amit Peled also had to surrender his extra set of strings early Monday morning at Warsaw Chopin airport, he told the Classic FM digital radio station by email. Peled was leaving the country after appearing with the Warsaw Philharmonic.

He said it was the first time that airport security anywhere required him to surrender his strings.

“Well, at least they didn’t take the cello claiming that the endpin could be used to stab somebody,” Peled wrote in the email.

Peled had been offered the opportunity to leave the strings on the cello but to check the instrument as registered baggage, which he declined.

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