Luton Airport has been reopened after bomb disposal technicians carried out a controlled explosion of a suspicious package.
Passengers and staff were evacuated outside, and all incoming fights were suspended shortly after 13:30 BST as police investigated the site and officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team examined a “suspicious package” at the departure terminal.
Passengers posted photos of the crowds outside the terminal building after the evacuation and the arrival of police and the bomb squad:
Chaos at Luton airport. Just been evacuated pic.twitter.com/nQZuKk5GSk
— gavindjharper (@gavindjharper) September 8, 2014
Bomb squad arrive at Luton Airport. pic.twitter.com/zSz4fmWwSo
— gavindjharper (@gavindjharper) September 8, 2014
#Luton airport – at a standstill. Police sealing off entry #c4news pic.twitter.com/70evCjLXhU
— Fatima Manji (@fatimamanji) September 8, 2014
In a statement, Luton Airport said:
“A controlled explosion was conducted at 5.15pm and it was confirmed that the item destroyed, although deemed suspicious, did not present a wider danger.”
The airport has now been reopened and Bedfordshire Police has confirmed that no arrests have been made in relation to the incident.
The “suspicious package” has since been reported to have been a household appliance, possible curling irons.
