Stansted Bomb scare: Passengers evacuated and flights delayed as Army is sent for suspicious package
Stansted reopens after military bomb squad carried out controlled explosion on suspicious package as passengers face hours of delays
Airport was evacuated after police found suspicious package in security area Essex Police worked with military bomb squad to carry out controlled explosionNothing of concern was found within the bag and a man has been arrested Stansted has 50 flights scheduled to depart between now and midnightPassengers in security had to leave their luggage behind and have missed flightsHave you been affected? Email clare.mccarthy@mailonline.co.uk
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Stansted Airport has reopened after a military bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package was found in the security area.
Passengers travelling from Stansted Airport were partially evacuated from Terminal 1 at around 1pm this afternoon.
Not long after, all passengers and staff were asked to move out of the building entirely and were left waiting on the street at the front of the airport for over four hours.
The security area reopened around 5pm and passengers were allowed back into the terminal but were faced with ‘utter chaos’ as people ‘jumped queues’ to rebook their missed their flights.
Essex Police, who were called in to manage the bomb scare response, said that ‘nothing of concern’ was found in the bag and a man has been arrested in connection with the incident.
In a statement before 5pm they said: ‘Military explosive experts have carried out a controlled explosion on the package, which has now been forensically recovered by police investigators. Initial assessments would indicate there was nothing of concern within the bag.
‘A man has been arrested in connection with this matter and remains in custody whilst investigations continue.’
One passenger told MailOnline a staff member believed it was a ‘serious incident’.
Ricardo Cardoso tweeted from Stansted: ‘A Ryanair representative, also stranded outside of the terminal, told me that the flights will departure at the schedule time and we will get a new spot, free of charge, on the next available flight, possibly today or tomorrow.’
As passengers stood and waited for news, the siren for evacuation was still heard blaring through the terminal.
Stansted has 50 departures scheduled between now and midnight – and they are continuing to fly, but with half-empty planes.
Stansted Airport has been evacuated after a suspicious package was found in the security area
The roads outside of Stansted Airport appear to be closed as passengers say no vehicles have come past on the roads adjacent to the entrance, pictured
Passengers were initially only partially evacuated, with them being told to stay in a certain area of the airport (pictured is check-in) before instructing everyone to leave the building
Passenger Thibault Laurentjoye was at Stansted with his wife and young son and has been waiting outside the Airport since the evacuation at 1pm.
He told MailOnline: ‘Only staff are going back inside now.
‘We are going to leave I think, it is cold now and my son is exhausted.
‘My understanding is that a lot of flights have left more or less on time and empty.’
Upon checking the flight status of his journey from London to Aalborg in Denmark, it says the plane departed on time but features no gate as it hadn’t been allocated at the time of evacuation.
Another passenger, Dr David de Lorenzo, said he successfully boarded the plane although it is almost empty.
An update from Stansted Airport at 15.50pm said: ‘Following reports of a suspicious package in the security area, a partial evacuation of the terminal has taked place as per standard procedure.
‘This has resulted in our security area being temporarily closed, and this may impact passengers due to travel on outbound flights at this time. Arriving flights are operating as normal.
‘Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline and we thank all those impated for their understanding.
Airport officials confirmed that Essex Police are managing the response and promised to provide an update on the situation soon.
Flight information on the screens have not updated and many have missed their flights after being told to leave.
Passengers were asking Stansted Airport for answers after they were evacuated with no explanation
Essex Police, managing the response, previously said: We’re currently at Stansted Airport following concerns about a suspicious package in the security area.
‘A cordon’s been set up.
‘Passengers have been evacuated from that area of the airport & brought to a position of safety.
‘Military explosive experts will assess the package.’
