Gatwick security alert and US embassy hoax bomb cause disruption in London

Large part of London airport's south terminal evacuated as police carried out controlled explosion on suspect package outside embassy

Passengers at Gatwick Airport after the south terminal was evacuated. PA

Flights from Gatwick were cancelled and delayed after the discovery of a 'suspected prohibited item'. PA

Passengers walk near Gatwick Airport. PA

A passenger near Gatwick Airport. PA

Passengers walk near Gatwick Airport. PA

Crowds of passengers as Gatwick Airport's south terminal is evacuated. PA

The alarm was raised at London's second-largest airport at 8.20am following the discovery of a "suspected prohibited item". PA

Police carried out a controlled explosion near the US embassy in Nine Elms, London, following the discovery of a suspect package. PA

A police officer and a police dog walk near the U. S. Embassy, amid ongoing investigation following an incident in London, Britain, November 22, 2024. REUTERS / Mina Kim

Onlookers near the US embassy. Reuters

Police closed a nearby road in Nine Elms 'out of an abundance of caution'. PA

Firefighters also attended the scene. Reuters

A police officer speaks to a cyclist after cordons were put up in the area of the embassy, just south of the River Thames. Reuters

Two simultaneous incidents sparked disruption in London on Friday, forcing the evacuation of a Gatwick Airport terminal and the controlled explosion of a suspect package later determined to have been a "hoax device" near the US embassy.

Police were called to London's second-largest airport at 8.20am following the discovery of a "suspected prohibited item" in luggage, prompting the evacuation of a large part of its south terminal. Around 100,000 passengers are set to fly in and out of the airport on Friday, but many are likely to miss their flights. The terminal reopened after six hours.

A "suspect package" was discovered near the US embassy in south London, at around the same time as the Gatwick incident, leading to the closure of a nearby road in Nine Elms "out of an abundance of caution". Police later said initial inquiries suggest the item was a "hoax device" and said an investigation will follow. There is no indication that the two incidents are linked.

People near the embassy told The National the incident there began at around 8.30am. It was still in progress at noon, with cordons surrounding the building and armed police standing guard, while officers swept the area with dogs, checking terraces and underneath cars.

A police officer and a police dog walk near the US embassy in London. Reuters

The embassy said it had resumed "normal business operations" in a statement issued shortly before 1pm. "The US embassy is back to normal business operations, with the exception that all public appointments (visa appointments, passport appointments, and other American Citizen services) for 22 November have been cancelled. Applicants will be contacted via email to reschedule. Local authorities investigated and cleared a suspicious package outside the embassy," it said in a statement on X. "Thanks to @metpoliceuk for your swift action, and thanks to all visitors for your co-operation and patience at this time."

Gatwick airport passengers delayed as bomb squad is deployed

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Nick Watson told The National he arrived at the embassy at around 10am for a visa appointment to find the building cordoned off and surrounded by police. "There were police everywhere. They had the tape up. We were told to wait a couple of hours, so we are holed up in the restaurant opposite."

Police released a statement confirming the "loud bang" heard in the area was a controlled explosion carried out by officers. "Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being," it said on X earlier in the day.

Police carried out a controlled explosion outside the US embassy. Gill Duncan / The National

Protesters with "Stop the Genocide" banners were gathered outside. The protest has been in place since September.

The US moved its embassy from Mayfair, central London, to a 12-storey purpose-built glass cube in Nine Elms in 2018, partly for safety reasons. The formerly industrial area houses dozens of upmarket apartment buildings alongside Battersea Power Station, a 1930s-era landmark featuring red brick and white chimneys, which has been redeveloped as a shopping and tourist centre.

The incident comes days after the US closed its embassy temporarily in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, over the threat of a Russian strike. Police said a security cordon would remain in place while the matter is dealt with.

'Suspected prohibited item in luggage'

Gatwick, Britain's second-busiest airport, which is located about 30 miles south of London, said it had evacuated a large part of its south terminal, citing a security incident. "Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20am on Friday following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage," Sussex Police said in a statement. "As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport."

Two people were later arrested in connection with the incident but were later release without further action being taken.

The airport released a statement at 2.44pm announcing the security alert had been resolved, and that the terminal was re-opening, but warned there were some flight delays and cancellations.

Around 100,000 passengers were set to travel through the airport on Friday. A number of flights to and from the south terminal were cancelled, including at least 16 departures and 13 arrivals by British Airways.

The Spanish carrier Vueling ordered one inbound flight each from Barcelona and Seville to turn around and return to their origin airports. A Norwegian flight to Bergen departed two hours and seven minutes late.

A spokesman for Gatwick said: "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 to resolve the issue as quickly as possible."

The north terminal is unaffected. Train services at Gatwick have been suspended, as the railway station is attached to the south terminal.