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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Man arrested over Heathrow alert | Man arrested over Heathrow alert |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| A major security alert has taken place at Heathrow airport as a man with a rucksack scaled the perimeter fence and ran into the path of an aircraft. | A major security alert has taken place at Heathrow airport as a man with a rucksack scaled the perimeter fence and ran into the path of an aircraft. |
| Eyewitnesses told the BBC armed police surrounded the man on the north runway. | Eyewitnesses told the BBC armed police surrounded the man on the north runway. |
| Police said a man was arrested and a controlled explosion of a bag found nothing suspicious. They later said the incident was not terrorism-related. | Police said a man was arrested and a controlled explosion of a bag found nothing suspicious. They later said the incident was not terrorism-related. |
| The alert, which delayed some flights, came a day before the Queen opens Heathrow's new Terminal 5 building. | The alert, which delayed some flights, came a day before the Queen opens Heathrow's new Terminal 5 building. |
| BBC correspondent Ben Ando said police had received numerous 999 calls at 1405 GMT from members of the public. | BBC correspondent Ben Ando said police had received numerous 999 calls at 1405 GMT from members of the public. |
| Royal visit | Royal visit |
| Reports were of a man of Asian or Arab appearance removing his shoes before scaling the airport's perimeter fence, he said. | Reports were of a man of Asian or Arab appearance removing his shoes before scaling the airport's perimeter fence, he said. |
| It is understood a message sent from the pilot to air traffic control alerting them to a man on the runway may have been overheard by the police, allowing them to act swiftly. | It is understood a message sent from the pilot to air traffic control alerting them to a man on the runway may have been overheard by the police, allowing them to act swiftly. |
| Up to 20 emergency services vehicles were reportedly sent to the scene where the rucksack was recovered and the controlled explosion was carried out. | Up to 20 emergency services vehicles were reportedly sent to the scene where the rucksack was recovered and the controlled explosion was carried out. |
| We are determined to protect all passengers and all staff who go through Heathrow and every other airport Gordon Brown, Prime Minister | We are determined to protect all passengers and all staff who go through Heathrow and every other airport Gordon Brown, Prime Minister |
| A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said a man was being held in custody. | A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said a man was being held in custody. |
| Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen's visit to Heathrow to open the new £4.3bn T5 building would go ahead on Friday as planned. | Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen's visit to Heathrow to open the new £4.3bn T5 building would go ahead on Friday as planned. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I'm satisfied everything is now being done to ensure security at Heathrow is intact. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I'm satisfied everything is now being done to ensure security at Heathrow is intact. |
| "We are determined to protect all passengers and all staff who go through Heathrow and every other airport." | "We are determined to protect all passengers and all staff who go through Heathrow and every other airport." |
| Clearly this incident is a matter of some concern, and will be fully investigated in conjunction with the police BAA, airports operator | Clearly this incident is a matter of some concern, and will be fully investigated in conjunction with the police BAA, airports operator |
| Norman Shanks, a former head of security at airports operator BAA, said it was not the first time a person had climbed over airport fencing. | Norman Shanks, a former head of security at airports operator BAA, said it was not the first time a person had climbed over airport fencing. |
| But he said that while it was possible to climb such barriers, airports also had patrols, surveillance and fast-response units in place. | But he said that while it was possible to climb such barriers, airports also had patrols, surveillance and fast-response units in place. |
| Last month protesters opposing airport expansion plans breached security to unveil a banner on top of a parked passenger jet. | Last month protesters opposing airport expansion plans breached security to unveil a banner on top of a parked passenger jet. |
| Campaign groups Greenpeace and Plane Stupid both denied any involvement in this latest incident. | Campaign groups Greenpeace and Plane Stupid both denied any involvement in this latest incident. |
| Flight delays | Flight delays |
| Aviation security expert Chris Yates described it as "extraordinarily serious" and said a lot of hard questions would now be asked of Heathrow's security. | Aviation security expert Chris Yates described it as "extraordinarily serious" and said a lot of hard questions would now be asked of Heathrow's security. |
| The northern runway, also identified as 27R, was temporarily closed but is now fully operational. The southern runway remained open throughout the incident. | The northern runway, also identified as 27R, was temporarily closed but is now fully operational. The southern runway remained open throughout the incident. |
| A statement from BAA said the incident ended just before 1600 GMT. | A statement from BAA said the incident ended just before 1600 GMT. |
| "Some short delays have occurred as a result, but we expect to return to normal later this afternoon. | "Some short delays have occurred as a result, but we expect to return to normal later this afternoon. |
| "Clearly this incident is a matter of some concern, and will be fully investigated in conjunction with the police," the statement said. | "Clearly this incident is a matter of some concern, and will be fully investigated in conjunction with the police," the statement said. |
| Passengers were being advised to contact airlines to find out whether flights have been delayed or cancelled. | Passengers were being advised to contact airlines to find out whether flights have been delayed or cancelled. |