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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/08/london-luton-airport-evacuated-suspicious-item-found
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| Luton airport bomb scare: disposal experts carry out controlled explosion | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bomb-disposal experts have carried out a controlled explosion at a major London airport after a suspect package was found. | |
| The controlled explosion at Luton airport was carried out at about 5.20pm on Monday after thousands of passengers were evacuated and all incoming flights cancelled. | |
| A Bedfordshire police spokesman said the suspect package was discovered in the security search area of the departure terminal shortly after 1.30pm. | A Bedfordshire police spokesman said the suspect package was discovered in the security search area of the departure terminal shortly after 1.30pm. |
| Four hours later, police announced over the airport's PA system that there was to be a controlled explosion carried out by its explosive ordnance disposal experts. | |
| Several evacuated passengers used Twitter to describe the "chaos" as it unfolded. | |
| "Chaos at Luton Airport – being told to remain where we are on speakers, while at the same time being told to evacuate," wrote Luke Miller. | |
| Paul Green, who was due to fly to Edinburgh, said the mood was "pretty calm" once passengers were evacuated but complained that they had been given no information by airport staff. | Paul Green, who was due to fly to Edinburgh, said the mood was "pretty calm" once passengers were evacuated but complained that they had been given no information by airport staff. |
| "Once everyone was out and it became apparent that there was no fire – because the first alarm said it was a fire alarm – everyone was fairly calm," he said. | "Once everyone was out and it became apparent that there was no fire – because the first alarm said it was a fire alarm – everyone was fairly calm," he said. |
| "There's been no update from anyone. If it wasn't for Twitter we wouldn't know anything." | "There's been no update from anyone. If it wasn't for Twitter we wouldn't know anything." |
| Green had passed through security when the evacuation was announced. He said he suspected something was not right as he was approaching the x-ray scanners. | Green had passed through security when the evacuation was announced. He said he suspected something was not right as he was approaching the x-ray scanners. |
| He said: "I was going through security and the queue suddenly disappeared behind me – this was about 20 minutes before the alarm sounded. It took about 10 minutes to evacuate everyone. | He said: "I was going through security and the queue suddenly disappeared behind me – this was about 20 minutes before the alarm sounded. It took about 10 minutes to evacuate everyone. |
| "There was a woman running around telling the x-ray operators something and I asked them what was happening but they didn't know." | "There was a woman running around telling the x-ray operators something and I asked them what was happening but they didn't know." |
| A spokeswoman for London Luton airport said: "We understand passengers will be frustrated by the delays they are experiencing. | A spokeswoman for London Luton airport said: "We understand passengers will be frustrated by the delays they are experiencing. |
| "We are working closely with the police to ensure passengers are not inconvenienced unnecessarily but we must ensure that the safety and security of all our passengers and staff remains our top priority." | "We are working closely with the police to ensure passengers are not inconvenienced unnecessarily but we must ensure that the safety and security of all our passengers and staff remains our top priority." |