M25: Man had cylinder and wires

The man arrested at the M25 Dartford Crossing security alert has been detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to a secure unit. Drivers were stuck for more than seven hours in nine-mile tailbacks on Friday evening after the 27-year-old got off a Dover-bound coach and ran to rough ground.

He was arrested on suspicion of making a bomb hoax. Kent Police found a suspicious looking device on the coach. An Ordnance Disposal Team examined the wired cylindrical item, but found it was safe. The arrested man, who lives in Bournemouth in Dorset, is now under the care of the Health Authority.

Kent Police have arrested a 27-year-old foreign national after the security alert on the M25. The man had left a Dover-bound coach and ran to rough ground. Security personnel at a nearby distribution depot detained the man, and Kent Police arrested him at 4.15pm.

He was taken to a police station where he remains in custody, on suspicion of making a bomb hoax. The coach, which had just gone through the toll booths, was evacuated, as was the immediate surrounding area, which was extremely busy at the time.

Kent Police officers removed a heavily sealed bag from the coach and on viewing it were presented with a suspicious looking device – a cylindrical item with wires. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team attended the scene and a robotic device was deployed to examine it more closely.

Occupants of the coach were taken to a nearby rest centre and interviewed by officers. They were eventually reunited with their coach and luggage and allowed to continue their journey in the early hours of Saturday 7 September.

The detained man made further threats that there was an explosive device on another coach. Officers stopped a coach at 6pm on the A20 at Dover and it was evacuated. The road was closed. Those on board were taken to a rest centre whilst the investigation progressed.

No threat was found and the occupants were later reunited with their coach to continue their journey. The A20 reopened around 10.45pm.

The M25 Dartford Crossing in Kent has been re-opened after a security alert last night. Drivers were stuck for more than seven hours in nine-mile tailbacks after a pedestrian, who was spotted behaving strangely, was arrested at the scene.

The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and both tunnels were shut when police officers found a suspicious item. But after Army bomb disposal teams investigated, they said the item posed no threat and reopened all routes.

The A20 was also closed in Dover as officers stopped a coach as part of their inquiries into the Dartford Crossing incident.The coach was removed from the scene, police said, and the road was later reopened. The arrested man remains in police custody. No further arrests were made.

Dartford River Crossing remains closed while police carry out investigations at the scene.

Cars which were on QE2 bridge were turned around and the lorries remain parked on the bridge.

Traffic travelling from Kent towards Essex is being diverted along the A2 through the Blackwall tunnel.

Traffic travelling from Essex towards Kent is being diverted via the A13.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams are on the scene at the Dartford Crossing and are in the process of assessing the situation so appropriate action can be taken. Officers stopped a coach in the A20 area of Dover as part of the investigation at the Dartford River Crossing. The A20 was closed.

There are severe delays tonight on the M25 in Essex and Kent because of a security alert. The Dartford Tunnel is closed. The QE2 Bridge is also shut.

Kent: M25 closed and severe delays anticlockwise between J2, A2 (Darenth Interchange) and J30, A13 (Lakeside), because of a security alert. Diversions are in operation.

Also just in: M25 QE2 Bridge blocked and severe delays clockwise from J31 A1306 Arterial Road West Thurrock to A282, Dartford River Crossing toll booths, because of a security alert. Tailbacks for five miles.