UK's Gatwick airport evacuated in security scare
LONDON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The discovery of a suspicious
abandoned vehicle triggered a security scare at London's Gatwick
airport on Friday evening, causing the evacuation of a terminal
and travel chaos.
"A suspicious vehicle found abandoned near south terminal at
Gatwick Airport has given rise to a full security alert," said a
spokesman for Sussex police, who patrol the airport.
He said airport perimeter roads and parts of the A23 highway
had been closed. The south terminal building was being evacuated
and bomb disposal teams were on the scene.
Rail services were likely to be disrupted and the public was
encouraged to avoid the area to avoid traffic congestion.
Passengers should check with their airline about flights, the
spokesman said.
Gatwick Airport's south terminal was evacuated tonight after a suspect vehicle
was found underneath the building, Sussex Police said.
The alarm was raised at 8.50pm by a member of the public who spotted the
vehicle parked in a lay-by of a road that runs under the building.
Bomb disposal experts were at the scene examining the vehicle, said Insp Gavin
Whitehouse.
Insp Whitehouse said: "There is a road that travels underneath the south
terminal and the vehicle was found in a layby.
"A member of the public brought the matter to police attention."
The officer would not discuss the type of vehicle involved but said police
were working with the bomb disposal unit.
He added: "They are examining it as we speak that is the current
situation."
Speaking about the traffic problems he said: "We have closed the south
terminal and evacuated all the people and closed the road and rail networks
nearby."
He explained that part of the A23 had been closed.
The inspector said: "Our advice to air passengers is to check with their
travel companies as there will obviously be disruptions."
Graham Hay, spokesman for Gatwick Express, said the rail service to the
airport, which runs from Victoria station in London, had been suspended.
He told BBC News 24: "All we know is that there is an ongoing security alert
at the airport and our services are currently suspended until told otherwise."
A spokesman for West Sussex Ambulance Service would not comment on tonight's
security alert.
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Gatwick Express services had all been suspended, a spokesman for British
Transport Police confirmed.
"The incident is currently under Sussex Police jurisdiction. But the Gatwick
station falls within the cordon area of the security alert and therefore with
passengers travelling in we have had to suspend all services," he said.
The airport remained open tonight despite the alert on the A23 nearby.
An airport spokeswoman said a motor vehicle was discovered abandoned on the
north-bound carriageway on the A23 at 8.50pm.
She said: "Because of the circumstances surrounding the vehicle, the police
have closed the A23 and the surrounding area.
"The south terminal building is open. It's not affecting the north terminal
at all.
"Passengers are still able to check in and arrive as normal but we advise
they leave extra time.
"There are only a small number of flights left this evening and arrivals are
coming in as normal."
A British Airways spokeswoman said its flights were unaffected as it flew from
the north terminal.
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