UK Twitter jokers fall afoul of US anti-terror paranoia

TWO BRITISH TOURISTS have been greeted with the force of US anti-terrorist cops after making jokes on Twitter about their upcoming American holiday.

The couple, who look reasonable enough to us, were due to holiday in America last week, according to the Daily Mail.

Unfortunately their tweets beforehand were not taken in the spirit that they were made by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and rather than enjoying beach drinks they found themselves wearing handcuffs.

Messages that they posted before their holiday look fairly normal to the British observer. "Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America?" reads one from the chap to a friend of his and, "3 weeks today, we're totally in LA p****** people off on Hollywood Blvd and diggin' Marilyn Monroe up!" said another, in reference to a gag from the US TV show Family Guy.

The jokes were lost on the US DHS Customs officers however, and when the pair arrived in the US they were greeted by serious men who wanted to search their luggage for shovels. Yes. Shovels.

"They asked why we wanted to destroy America and we tried to explain it meant to get trashed and party. I almost burst out laughing when they asked me if I was going to be Leigh's lookout while he dug up Marilyn Monroe," said Emily Banting to the Daily Mail.

"It got even more ridiculous because the officials searched our suitcases and said they were looking for spades and shovels. They did a full body search on me too. We just wanted to have a good time on holiday."

They did not have a good time however, and Leigh Van Bryan, 26, was locked up in a cell with 'Mexican drug dealers' for 12 hours.

Both were refused entry into the US and must apply for visas before attempting to enter the US again. µ