14 November 2015•Update: 14 November 2015
LONDON
Passengers were evacuated from London's Gatwick Airport on Saturday morning after a man was apparently spotted disposing of a firearm in a terminal.
Bomb disposal experts were called shortly after 9.30 a.m. local time after a man was seen acting suspiciously inside the airport's North Terminal.
A statement from Sussex Police, the local police force, said: “Personal items and what appears to be a firearm were recovered and have been removed for forensic examination. However, the viability of the weapon has yet to be established.
“A 41-year-old man from Vendome in France was arrested at the scene at the time of the report on suspicion of firearms offences. He was ‘landside’ at the airport and had not checked in or passed through any airport security.”
The man was being interviewed in custody, but Detective Superintendent Nick May said it was too early to say what his intentions were.
He continued: “However, given the events in Paris on Friday evening, there is heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness.
“We are aware that there is concern about what has happened in France, but the general threat level remains the same and people should be aware as usual of anyone acting suspiciously and report any concerns immediately.”
Travelers at the airport posted images on social media of passengers standing outside the terminal building next to their luggage, waiting to be let inside.
University of London geography professor Tim Unwin, who appeared to be at the airport, wrote on Twitter that passengers were told to leave the North Terminal's first floor shortly after 10 a.m. local time.
Passengers were relocated to a nearby hotel for a few hours during the closure, causing delays to some flights.
Gatwick, 45 km to the south of London, is the U.K. capital's second largest airport.
Britain has not raised its terror threat level in response to Friday night's attacks in Paris, but police have announced increased patrols in crowded central London areas this weekend.
