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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ryan Merrifield

Heathrow evacuated with 'heavy police presence' called to security alert outside terminal

Armed police have descended on Heathrow's Terminal 2 with passengers evacuated after a potentially suspicious item was found.

A Met Police spokesperson told the Mirror officers were called to the airport at just after 10.45am today following reports of an "unattended bag".

They added the area had been evacuated as a "precaution".

Transport for London has said the airport station is also closed while staff "help the police respond to a security alert".

Photos shared on social media show crowds of passengers congregated outside.

Several police vehicles can also be seen parked up.

Have you been affected by this incident? Let us know at webnews@mirror.co.uk

People have been evacuated from Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2 (@steve_drewett/Twitter)

One of the passengers evacuated described seeing "lots of armed police" at the scene.

Another said they had initially given "no explanation" on being ordered to leave the terminal.

Frustrated, one directly tweeted the airport to ask: "Can you tell me what is going on at the exit in terminal 2 and why we are not being allowed to leave?"

Police outside Terminal 2 (@El_King_Rayes/Twitter)

In a statement, police said: "Police were called at 10:47hrs to reports of an unattended bag at Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport.

"The area has been evacuated as a precaution. The item will be assessed by specialist officers."

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Our teams are working with the police, in response to a potentially suspicious item identified at Terminal 2.

"As a precaution, passengers have been temporarily moved away from the area.

"We apologise to any passengers inconvenienced while the matter is investigated.”

They then added at around 12.45pm: "This incident has been closed by police and the terminal is fully reopen."

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