London City Airport shut as WW2 bomb found near Thames Published duration 12 February 2018

image copyright PA image caption Planes are grounded at the airport following the discovery of the device

An operation to remove a 500kg World War Two bomb that has forced the closure of London City Airport will continue through the night.

The airport has been shut all day and all flights cancelled, affecting up to 16,000 passengers, officials said.

The bomb was found at George V Dock on Sunday during planned work at the east London airport.

The Royal Navy said the bomb would be exploded underwater overnight and the airport should reopen on Tuesday.

Police have confirmed families who were evacuated from around the site can return to their homes after the device was moved to another location in the dock.

However, a new cordon area around some roads south-east of the airport will come into effect from 21:00 GMT as the ordnance is transported further.

A tunnel used by some rail services from St Pancras International will also be closed around midnight.

image copyright Royal Navy/MoD/Crown Copyright image caption The airport says the operation to remove the bomb is "proceeding well"

image copyright Royal Navy/MoD/Crown Copyright image caption The Ministry of Defence says bomb disposal teams deal with about 60 German World War Two bombs a year

The airport was shut at 22:00 GMT on Sunday when the bomb was discovered lying in a bed of silt 15m underwater.

Lieutenant Commander Jonny Campbell, who is leading the bomb disposal diving unit, said the 1.5m-long device would be floated down the River Thames and "high-grade military explosives" would be attached to it.

He said his team had "a long night ahead" before the bomb is finally destroyed underwater on Tuesday morning.

image caption The device was discovered during planned works at the airport

According to the airport's website, a total of 261 arrivals and departures had been scheduled for Monday.

"All flights today are cancelled but some airlines have moved their flights to other airports - CityJet to Southend and Alitalia to Stansted", the airport said.

Passengers have been told not to travel to the airport as the terminal is closed and to contact their airline

Among passengers affected were Tottenham Hotspur fans heading to Italy for a Champions League game against Juventus.

The north London club advised any fans flying to Milan to "contact their airline as soon as possible", ahead of the match in Turin on Tuesday.

image copyright PA image caption Passengers were turned away from the airport and all flights were stopped

Spurs fan David, 52, was booked to fly to Milan on Monday before taking a connecting train to Turin ahead of the Champions League away match.

British Airways has now booked him onto a new flight on Tuesday, he said, but he was disappointed he has lost a hotel night in Turin.

"There's no sense of 'you're out of pocket for a night in a hotel'," he said.

Robert Sinclair, CEO of the airport, apologised and said: "The airport is cooperating fully with the Met Police and Royal Navy and working hard to safely remove the device and resolve the situation as quickly as possible."

image copyright PA image caption The first stage of the operation was to free the bomb shell from the silt so it can be floated for removal

image copyright Reuters image caption The device has been moved to another location in the dock before it is floated further down the Thames

Airlines using London City Airport include British Airways, Flybe, CityJet, KLM and Lufthansa, with flights to domestic and European city destinations.

Police said a 214-metre exclusion zone had been set up and properties inside were evacuated.

A rest centre was opened by Newham Council to provide bedding and refreshments for families affected.

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One passenger arriving at the airport had been hoping to board a flight to Milan.

"We don't know what to do", the passenger told BBC London.

"We're going back to the city to get more information as there's nobody here to help. We'll have to call our airline and hopefully we'll arrive back in Milan soon."

The roads affected by the latest exclusion zone are Woodman Street, Milk Street, Fishguard Way, Barge House Road and parts of Grimsby Grove.

Newham Council has advised families affected "to make arrangements to stay with family and friends".

Docklands Light Railway services between the airport and Woolwich Arsenal have also been suspended.

Passengers took to social media to express confusion and frustration.

Twitter user Richard Macey talked about his Dublin flight being cancelled.

Another user said they were attempting to book a new flight to Aberdeen.

At the scene: Greg McKenzie, BBC Radio London

image caption A police cordon is in place around houses in Silvertown, Newham

People have been arriving at London City Airport DLR station - many with suitcases and some unsure about what is happening.

I've managed to get into a tower block in Silvertown - directly opposite the airport where 15-20 police vans are blocking each entrance to the estate.

From the 10th floor I can see the runway - which is empty.

On a usual Monday you'd expect a plane landing every 20 minutes.

I saw about 10 British Airways planes grounded at the airport.

Last year, more than 4.5 million passengers used London City Airport.

A £400m expansion was given the go-ahead by ministers in July 2016, which includes extending the terminal.

image copyright PA image caption The airport will undergo a £400m expansion

Related Topics London City Airport