Gatwick Airport evacuation: Latest updates as passengers ordered to leave the south terminal and train services are suspended

Traffic queues are building near the airport

The Gatwick Express, which runs rail services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria, has urged passengers to avoid travelling to the airport while the police investigation is under way.

The operator added that local buses are unable to run to the airport because of road closures in place locally.

At present, the station and South Terminal at the airport are being evacuated whilst the police are dealing with an incident. If you are planning on travelling to the airport, please delay your journey until later today

Local buses are also affected and unable to run to Gatwick Airport, so we would advise to avoid using this route

We’ve also been advised of local road closures too, so if you are driving to the airport please be aware of this when planning your journey. Please do not travel to the station at this time.

Sussex Police said it had been called to the South Terminal at 8.20am following the discovery of ‘suspected prohibited item in luggage’.

A bomb squad has been deployed to the busy terminal as a ‘precaution’. Police did not elaborate further on the nature of the discovery.

Eyewitnesses told MailOnline they had seen police with ‘explosive’ patches on their jackets and sniffer dogs entering the terminal.

One passenger told a MailOnline reporter: ‘Nothing much is happening here. The passengers know nothing.’

Here’s the latest from our reporter Jon Brady…

It is being reported that the evacuation was ordered after a suspicious package was identified in the security screening area in the south terminal, according to The Times.

Explosive experts are said to be on the scene and assessing the threat.

We’re seeing reports on social media of confused passengers at Gatwick Airport after the south terminal was evacuated this morning.

Travellers have shared images of large crowds exiting the airport which has caused scenes of apparent chaos.

We’ll bring you more information as and when we can

Video shared on social media showed scores of passengers walking outside the terminal as security staff probed the incident.

Gatwick Airport said in a statement on X:

A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident.

Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing.

Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Gatwick Airport’s south terminal has been evacuated this morning following an unspecified ‘security’ incident.

Airport bosses began probing a security incident sometime around 9am on Friday before ordering passengers to leave.

Eyewitnesses said even passengers who had been through security were being evacuated from the airport, near Crawley in West Sussex.

Gatwick Express services will not stop at the station until further notice. The train operator has advised passengers to suspend their journeys.