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Luton Airport evacuated after 'suspicious item' found in security area | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
London Luton’s airport is to re-open after passengers were evacuated from the premises and all incoming flights suspended when a suspicious item was found in the security search area. | London Luton’s airport is to re-open after passengers were evacuated from the premises and all incoming flights suspended when a suspicious item was found in the security search area. |
Police were called at approximately 1.30pm this afternoon. After consulting with airport staff, officers evacuated passengers from the the entire airport. | Police were called at approximately 1.30pm this afternoon. After consulting with airport staff, officers evacuated passengers from the the entire airport. |
Hundreds of passengers were left to wait outside the terminal following the evacuation. | Hundreds of passengers were left to wait outside the terminal following the evacuation. |
Shortly before 3pm a bomb disposal team arrived at the airport and carried out a controlled explosion at around 5pm. | Shortly before 3pm a bomb disposal team arrived at the airport and carried out a controlled explosion at around 5pm. |
Bedfordshire Police have confirmed that the item was safe and no arrested have been made. The airport will be opening soon, but passengers should expect delays, the force added. | Bedfordshire Police have confirmed that the item was safe and no arrested have been made. The airport will be opening soon, but passengers should expect delays, the force added. |
Following road closures around the airport, the shutdown also led to serious road congestion which spread to the nearby M1. | Following road closures around the airport, the shutdown also led to serious road congestion which spread to the nearby M1. |
Henry Mead, who was inside at the time of the evacuation, said to The Independent, “it was chaos”. | Henry Mead, who was inside at the time of the evacuation, said to The Independent, “it was chaos”. |
Gavin Harper, another person who was travelling at the time, tweeted during the evacuation: “Chaos at Luton. Just been evacuated”. | Gavin Harper, another person who was travelling at the time, tweeted during the evacuation: “Chaos at Luton. Just been evacuated”. |
Mr Harper then began tweeting a series of pictures of what appears to be the bomb disposal squad arriving. | Mr Harper then began tweeting a series of pictures of what appears to be the bomb disposal squad arriving. |
Bomb disposal van moving pic.twitter.com/EKlWQKq6td | Bomb disposal van moving pic.twitter.com/EKlWQKq6td |
Speaking to The Independent, he said most people were calm, although it was "very hot" and there was "not much" water for the passengers waiting in Luton's car park. | Speaking to The Independent, he said most people were calm, although it was "very hot" and there was "not much" water for the passengers waiting in Luton's car park. |
Bedfordshire Police confirmed that they had cleared the departure lounge at Luton, the country's sixth biggest airport which primarily serves holiday destinations. | Bedfordshire Police confirmed that they had cleared the departure lounge at Luton, the country's sixth biggest airport which primarily serves holiday destinations. |
Photo from outside Luton airport A statement on the London Luton airport earlier in the day explained: “London Luton Airport has evacuated the terminal building after a suspicious item was found in the security search area." | Photo from outside Luton airport A statement on the London Luton airport earlier in the day explained: “London Luton Airport has evacuated the terminal building after a suspicious item was found in the security search area." |
The statement continued: "All incoming flights have been suspended and the approach road to the Airport has also been closed.” | The statement continued: "All incoming flights have been suspended and the approach road to the Airport has also been closed.” |
Britain recently raised its international terrorism alert to its second-highest level, saying Islamic State in Syria and Iraq posed the country's greatest-ever security risk. | Britain recently raised its international terrorism alert to its second-highest level, saying Islamic State in Syria and Iraq posed the country's greatest-ever security risk. |