'Police incident' triggers evacuation at the London Airport

Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal was evacuated on Friday after a suspicious package was discovered near the American Embassy in London, triggering a security response. The UK authorities carried out a controlled explosion to neutralize the potential threat posed by the package. As a precaution, a large part of the South Terminal, one of the two terminals at Gatwick, was evacuated. Passengers were advised not to enter the terminal while the situation was being investigated. At this point, the exact nature of the suspicious package was not disclosed by the authorities.

Due to the ongoing security operation, major disruptions occurred to train services serving the airport. Gatwick Express, Southern, and Thameslink trains all suspended their stops at Gatwick’s railway station. The National Rail service issued an advisory asking passengers to delay their journeys and refrain from heading to the airport, urging them to check for service updates throughout the morning.

A Gatwick Airport spokesperson provided an update, saying, “A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident. Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

Following the explosion, London’s police issued a statement confirming that the “loud bang” heard in the vicinity of the embassy was a controlled explosion. The police also mentioned that enquiries were still ongoing and that cordons would remain in place for the time being. The authorities closed several roads near the embassy and around Gatwick to ensure safety and facilitate the investigation. “We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers. Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being,” said the police.

The controlled explosion, which took place outside the American Embassy, was part of standard protocol in dealing with potentially dangerous items. Authorities are continuing their investigations into the suspicious package, although no details have been released on the package’s contents. The evacuation and controlled explosion are part of ongoing security measures at the airport as authorities assess the situation. Gatwick Airport, located 30 miles south of London, remains the second-busiest airport in the UK, handling millions of passengers each year.