Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
Mark Thackara
The scene at Luton airport this afternoon
# Alert
Luton airport terminal to reopen after controlled explosion on 'suspicious item'
Latest: Police have performed a controlled explosion.
Updated: 5.43 pm
A SECURITY ALERT at London Luton airport has led to the evacuation of the terminal building this afternoon.
After earlier reports from passengers on the scene, Bedfordshire Police have confirmed, through Twitter, that they performed a controlled explosion on a suspicious item.
In a statement at 5.50 pm, police confirmed that “the item destroyed, although deemed suspicious, did not present a wider danger.”
In a statement before 2.30pm today, the airport had announced:
London Luton Airport has evacuated the terminal building after a security alert.
The decision has been taken with the Police to ensure the safety and security of passengers and staff.
All incoming flights have been suspended and the approach road to the Airport has also been closed.
Passengers are advised to contact their airlines to establish the status of their flights.
A spokeswoman from the airport told AFP the alert had been sparked when “a suspicious item was found in the security seach area.”
Some of the thousands of passengers evacuated from the terminal have been tweeting updates and photographs from the scene:
