I DID get pulled out of gate waiting area @ Heathrow on a connecting flight. My wife was like WTF as I was asked to come behind their gate barrier and then walked downstairs with my carryon. It was searched (and I was again). The security officer questioning me had a head scarf on, she was obviously of middle eastern origin. Wasn’t trying to stereotype but I was thinking “well, this is pretty damned contradictory” to the expected.
Do you have an Irish surname?