Heathrow”s north runway was shut after a security alert this afternoon (13 March) in which a man was arrested by police.
”Airport police swiftly apprehended a man near the northern runway at about 2pm within the airport perimeter,” said a BAA spokesman.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the man with a bag, and Scotland Yard confirmed to ABTN that the man in question had been seen airside at 2.05pm and that a ”controlled explosion was carried out on a bag at 3.20pm and no device was found.”
A large number of emergency services vehicles were sent to the scene, and the man is now in police custody.
The BAA spokesman added: ”The use of the northern runway was temporarily suspended while police dealt with the incident, which ended at about 3.50pm when the runway came back into full use.
”Some short delays have occurred as a result, but we expect to return to normal later this afternoon. Clearly this incident is a matter of some concern, and will be fully investigated in conjunction with the police.”