Plastic pistol and pepper spray container smuggled through security at Vienna's airport

An undercover Interior Ministry agent smuggled a plastic pistol and a small container of pepper spray through security at Vienna's airport, Austria, last month, an airport official acknowledged Friday.

The July 12 incident, which was first reported by the newspaper Der Standard, took place as part of routine tests required by European Union security officials, airport spokesman Hans Mayer said.

The undercover officer identified himself at the gate and did not board a plane, Mayer said, adding that security levels at the airport have not been compromised.

"We have reached the highest level of security," Mayer said.

The incident, one of 35,000 checks last month, was outlined in an internal report that was leaked to the media.

Some 16 million passengers travel through Vienna's international airport annually. Even travelers in transit are subjected to checks, Mayer said, reports the AP.