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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Security alert at London Heathrow | Security alert at London Heathrow |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of passengers travelling from Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 are facing delays after a suspect bag sparked a security alert. | Thousands of passengers travelling from Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 are facing delays after a suspect bag sparked a security alert. |
| The Metropolitan Police said it was dealing with the item which was found at the terminal just before midday. | |
| BAA said the departure lounge was partially evacuated and departing passengers were being re-screened, causing some cancellations and delays. | |
| The alert comes after failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow. | |
| BAA said arrivals at the terminal were still operating as normal. | |
| BBC correspondent Daniel Boettcher said hundreds of people were backed up onto the street and into the car park. | BBC correspondent Daniel Boettcher said hundreds of people were backed up onto the street and into the car park. |
| Extra precaution | Extra precaution |
| A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said all air traffic from Terminal 4 had been stopped while checks were carried out. | A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said all air traffic from Terminal 4 had been stopped while checks were carried out. |
| BAA said the suspect bag was identified shortly before 1200 BST. | BAA said the suspect bag was identified shortly before 1200 BST. |
| A spokesperson said: "As an extra precaution, it was decided to perform secondary searches on all departing passengers at the aircraft gate. | A spokesperson said: "As an extra precaution, it was decided to perform secondary searches on all departing passengers at the aircraft gate. |
| "In order to facilitate the secondary search process, a decision was made by the police to partially evacuate the departure lounge and re-screen the passengers. | "In order to facilitate the secondary search process, a decision was made by the police to partially evacuate the departure lounge and re-screen the passengers. |
| "Contingency plans have now been activated to ensure that we are able to effectively manage the increase in resource that this secondary search requires." | "Contingency plans have now been activated to ensure that we are able to effectively manage the increase in resource that this secondary search requires." |
| Terminal 4 is used by KLM, British Airways, Qantas Airways and Sri Lankan Air. | Terminal 4 is used by KLM, British Airways, Qantas Airways and Sri Lankan Air. |
| Alternative route | Alternative route |
| Earlier on Tuesday a controlled explosion was carried out on a suspect device near Hammersmith Tube station. | Earlier on Tuesday a controlled explosion was carried out on a suspect device near Hammersmith Tube station. |
| During the morning rush-hour the station in west London and surrounding roads were closed when a suspect device was found at about 0825 BST. | During the morning rush-hour the station in west London and surrounding roads were closed when a suspect device was found at about 0825 BST. |
| There was an unconfirmed report the suspect objects had turned out to be three abandoned fire extinguishers. | There was an unconfirmed report the suspect objects had turned out to be three abandoned fire extinguishers. |
| Up to 8,000 commuters were forced to find alternative routes into work as Hammersmith and Barons Court stations were closed for an hour. | Up to 8,000 commuters were forced to find alternative routes into work as Hammersmith and Barons Court stations were closed for an hour. |
| There were also severe delays for motorists as Hammersmith Broadway was closed between King Street and Shepherd's Bush Road as well as Hammersmith Bridge. | There were also severe delays for motorists as Hammersmith Broadway was closed between King Street and Shepherd's Bush Road as well as Hammersmith Bridge. |
| Tower Hill and East Ham Tube stations were shut during the morning rush-hour in a separate alert. | Tower Hill and East Ham Tube stations were shut during the morning rush-hour in a separate alert. |
| Are you at the airport? How have you been affected? Send us your comments using the form below: | |
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