John McAfee admits he was not arrested in Norway over wearing a 'thong mask'

Tech tycoon John McAfee has admitted it was not Norway where he was arrested while wearing a thong as a mask.

McAfee, who is known for the eponymous anti-virus software, revealed on Monday, August 10, he had been held by police at an airport, tweeting: “I am being held in Norway”.

That was reported by the media, including the Evening Standard, but after his release McAfee said on Tuesday he was actually trying to return to Germany and was refused entrance.

He added: “They demanded we wear masks. I put on my thong mask. They demanded I replace it. I refused. Tussle. Jail. Black eye. Released.”

The following day McAfee began criticising the media over quoting him that it was Norway, pointing out a police officer pictured with him had the German word Polizei on his shoulder badge.

Swiss tabloid Blick said police in the German city of Augsburg confirmed McAfee wanted to enter but departed because he would have to go into quarantine. A police spokesman said there was no arrest.

And in the latest twist, McAfee has seemingly also cast doubt on subsequent reports that the whole thing had been a hoax, tweeting on Wednesday: “Love the news. My arrest was a hoax because I claimed I was in a different country:) When is the last time I gave correct information about my location? :)”

• This story has been re-written after the Evening Standard originally reported McAfee’s initial tweet that he was detained in Norway following a complaint from Norwegian website Faktisk