7 updates
14 November 2015

Gatwick: French man arrested as 'firearm' prompts evacuation

A 41-year-old man from France is being questioned after "what appears to be a firearm" was discovered in a bin at Gatwick airport, Sussex Police said.

The airport's North Terminal was evacuated following a subsequent security alert, but has now been re-opened.

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Travellers queuing at Gatwick's North terminal after the evacuation. Credit: PA

A French man has appeared in court charged with possessing an air rifle and a knife following an evacuation at Gatwick Airport.

Jerome Chauris, 41, from Vendome in central France, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly walked into the airport's North Terminal carrying the weapons.

Wearing a white striped shirt and his black shoulder-length hair swept back, Chauris identified himself with the help of an interpreter.

During the hearing he wept and made several comments in French.

The incident, which took place at around 9.30am on Saturday, sent parts of the airport into lockdown and caused significant disruption to travellers.

Check-in was closed for six hours and is said to have cost airlines and passengers an estimated £1.2m.

The court heard how thousands of passengers and airport staff were evacuated from the terminal's 'landside' concourse, the area before luggage screening and security checks open to the public.

Officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team then moved into the departure hall and carried out a small controlled explosion on a suspicious package.

Mr Chauris, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody to appear before Lewes Crown Court on 14 December.

Gatwick Airport's North Terminal has reopened after a security alert prompted an evacuation.

The closure was prompted by the discovery of what police believed to be a firearm in a bin at the airport.

A 41-year-old man from Vendome in France was arrested at the scene on suspicion of discarding the suspected weapon.

He had not checked in or passed through any passport or security checks at the time, Sussex Police said.

A 41-year-old French man is being questioned after "what appears to be a firearm" was discovered at Gatwick airport's North Terminal, Sussex Police say.

A major security alert at Gatwick was sparked by a man "discarding an item" at the airport, police say.

The man was arrested and the bomb squad was called following the incident at around 9.30am on Saturday morning.

Detective Superintendent Nick May said it was "too early to say what the item may be".

"Given the events in Paris on Friday evening, there is heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness," he added.

At this time, we are investigating the circumstances of the incident and it is too early to say what the item may be.

However, given the events in Paris on Friday evening, there is heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness.

We are aware that there is concern about what has happened in France, but the general threat level remains the same and people should be aware as usual of anyone acting suspiciously.

– Detective Superintendent Nick May

Police are dealing with an incident involving a "suspicious article" at Gatwick Airport, Sussex Police has told ITV News.

A spokesperson confirmed the North Terminal has been evacuated because of the security scare.

At this time police are dealing with an incident involving a suspicious article in the North Terminal.

Currently the North Terminal is being evacuated as a precaution.

– Sussex Police