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The bomb disposal team has carried out a series of controlled explosions at Manchester Airport following a security alert over a ‘suspicious package’.

Police were called to the airport in south Manchester at 9am this morning after routine hold baggage screening identified a bag which appeared to contain a suspicious item.

A full evacuation of Terminal 3 then took place and remained closed for more than three hours. Terminals 1 and 2 remained open.

The bomb disposal team were called and carried out a series of controlled explosions.

(Image: Dom Birtles)

A spokesperson for GMP said: "Police were called at 8.50am on Wednesday 5 July 2017 to reports of a suspicious package at Manchester Airport.

“Officers responded and a precautionary evacuation of Terminal 3 has taken place.

“Bomb disposal officers attended and a series of controlled explosions were carried out of the package.

“Following further inspections, the package is not believed to be a viable device and there is not believed to be any threat at this time.

“This is not believed to be terror related and cordons will be lifted in due course."

Passengers who were due to depart from Terminal 3 were advised to head to Terminal 1, where they were given further information.

People arriving into Terminal 3 were also brought through to Terminal 1, apart from a number of RyanAir flights which went into Terminal 2.

Flights 1144 Berlin, 3203 Rzeszow, 3504 Nuremberg, 3442 Palma, 3186 Madrid and 7543 Barcelona were all due to arrive at Terminal 2.

Passengers travelling from Terminal 3 today are advised to contact their airline.

A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said: "Manchester Airport can confirm that our routine hold baggage screening process in Terminal 3 identified a bag which appeared to contain a suspicious item.

“Greater Manchester Police was immediately informed and all passengers were safely evacuated from the terminal while further investigations took place.

“Officers have now determined the bag poses no threat and we are beginning the process of allowing colleagues and passengers back into the terminal.

“We apologise to all passengers affected by this incident. The safety and security of our customers and employees will always be our number one priority.

“We encourage all passengers due to travel from Terminal 3 to contact their airline for updates."

(Image: Neil Cooper)

Holidaymakers who were already through security were evacuated onto the taxiway, with passengers describing chaotic scenes.

Kate Feld, a writer from Ramsbottom, was checking in for her flight to Philadelphia when the evacuation took place.

She said: “There was an announcement, everyone had to leave it was being evacuated. The man said it was just a drill, clearly this was not the case in retrospect.

“On the airfield they have taken all of the people of the planes and the buses.

“One flight just did take off. One friend is on a bus, she was waiting to fly out and is now on a bus.

“Nobody is telling us what is going on. There has been no announcement.

“A man has come out to tell us to get further back.”