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Passengers travelling from London’s Gatwick airport faced major disruption on Friday after one of its terminals was closed for several hours because of a security scare.
The British Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was deployed after a suspected banned item was found in a passenger’s luggage in the airport’s south terminal.
Gatwick said the terminal was evacuated “as a precaution” at just before 11am, and that it reopened at about 3pm.
“The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police . . . Safety and security is always our top priority. There are some delays and cancellations, passengers should contact their airline for any updates on flights,” the airport said.
Flights were not fully grounded but delays built up through the day, with passengers unable to check in for several hours.
Flights to and from the north terminal were unaffected.
Gatwick is the UK’s second-busiest airport, with 634 flights scheduled on Friday, according to aviation data provider Cirium.
Sussex Police said they were called to the airport at 8.20am following the discovery of a “suspected prohibited item” and that a wide security cordon was put in place.
Some roads were closed while train services to Gatwick’s station were also suspended.
“We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this situation was resolved. Safety and security is always our top priority,” Gatwick said.
Passengers reported confusion around the evacuation.
Afiya Rufaro, who had been due to fly to Bilbao on a 1pm flight, said passengers had been told to leave the terminal but were given very little information by airport staff.
Everyone was stood around outside, “angry and cold”, she said.
The disruption continued even once the alert was over and passengers were allowed back in, Rufaro said, because of a lack of staff.
“We are being asked to wait inside and await further instructions,” she added.
Separately, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday it had carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package near the US embassy in south London.
The Met said: “Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow.”