



A French man has been charged with possession of an air rifle and a knife following a major security alert at Gatwick airport on Saturday.

Massive disruption was caused at the North Terminal following the incident at 9.30am on Saturday when Sussex police were alerted to the “suspicious actions” of a 41-year-old man.

Jerome Chauris, from Vendôme, is due to appear in court on Monday.

According to Sussex police: “Jerome Chauris, 41, unemployed and of no fixed address, but from Vendôme, France, has been charged with possessing a dangerous article (an air rifle weapon) in any part of an aerodrome (Aviation Security Act 1982) and possessing a knife blade/sharp pointed article (a lock knife) in a public place (Criminal Justice Act 1988).”

Passengers and staff were allowed to return to the terminal about six hours after the alert, which forced police to evacuate the site, although the South Terminal remained operational throughout.

DS Nick May said on Saturday the terror attacks in Paris had led to “heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness”.



Passengers were evacuated from the North Terminal in the rain and taken to nearby hotels.

Chauris is due to appear at Crawley magistrates court.