A large section of Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal in London was evacuated Friday after a “suspected prohibited item” was discovered in passenger luggage, prompting a major security response, Al Jazeera reports.
Sussex Police confirmed the deployment of an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team as a precaution, while a security cordon remains in place.
The incident, described by airport authorities as a “security incident,” caused significant disruption. Passengers were prevented from entering the South Terminal, and police reported substantial traffic congestion in the surrounding area, urging drivers to avoid the vicinity of the airport, located 30 miles south of London. Gatwick, the UK’s second busiest airport, experienced considerable delays and cancellations as a result.
In a separate incident on Friday, a controlled explosion was carried out by the Metropolitan Police near the US Embassy in London following the discovery of a “suspicious package.” Cordons were established around the high-security site in Nine Elms, and a nearby road was closed as a precautionary measure.
