DUBLIN, Ireland: A tourist tore out and ate the page of his passport containing his biometric data after attacking an immigration officer at Dublin Airport, a court heard.

Hasan Alshaer, a 27-year-old Palestinian with no fixed address, was charged with assaulting a customs officer at Terminal 1 and also with breaking immigration laws by not providing a valid passport or identity document.

He appeared in Dublin District Court this week following his arrest at 5:00 p.m. on June 3.

Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy told Judge John King that Alshaer approached an immigration officer but then tried to run away, taking his passport with him. "When she ran after him, it's claimed he hit her, causing her to fall," the sergeant said. "Then he tore a page from the travel document and ate it. That page had his biometric information."

The sergeant said Alshaer should not be granted bail because he might try to flee.

Defense barrister Paddy Flynn said Alshaer had money and could stay in a hotel. He added that Alshaer came to Ireland as a tourist and that the gardaí had his Palestinian passport.

However, the sergeant argued that the passport was now "useless" because the page needed to verify it had been destroyed.

Flynn then said his client also had a Greek passport. However, the State responded that having two passports made it even harder to confirm his identity.

Flynn also said Alshaer had been living in Germany and Greece for the past five years.

Judge King commented, "There is a serious problem here. He arrives in this country, sees immigration, runs, and then tears a page out of his passport, and this page has his biometric data on it, it is alleged. That is a huge problem for him."

Flynn said Alshaer had a valid residence permit, but the judge said fingerprinting through Interpol might help verify his identity — although that process could take time.

Sergeant Murphy agreed and added that the State was unlikely to accept any documents now given by Alshaer. He said the man didn't show any visa or permission to enter the country and destroyed the only travel document he showed.

Alshaer, who has not yet entered a plea, listened quietly with the help of an interpreter. He chose to delay his bail application.

Judge King ordered that he remain in custody and appear again in court on June 6.