Hundreds of passengers, staff and airline crew were forced to leave the airport building this afternoon while the alert was investigated. A Heathrow spokesperson said the alert was caused by a “potentially suspicious item”, with passengers evacuated from the area as a precautionary measure. Videos from the scene show people fleeing the terminal.
Police were able to confirm the item did not pose a safety risk at about 1.30pm, with passengers being allowed to return to the terminal as normal.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Earlier today, our teams responded alongside Police to reports of a potentially suspicious item at Terminal 2.
“The item has been investigated and does not pose a safety risk.
“We thank those passengers whose journeys were temporarily disrupted for their patience, and can confirm that our operations are now back to normal.”
A number of police vehicles arrived at the scene earlier this afternoon.
Travellers reported sniffer dogs were also present.
One person wrote on Twitter: “Some kind of security alert at Heathrow Terminal 2- not sure at this point what’s happening but passengers moved outside.”
Another user said: “Search operations underway @HeathrowAirport terminal 2 due to security alert all passengers and staff evacuated sniffer dogs in duty as well.”
A third wrote: “Some kind of security alert at Heathrow Terminal 2- not sure at this point what’s happening but passengers moved outside.”
Pictures from outside the terminal show crowds of passengers stood outside in the rain.
Labour MP Seema Malhotra was caught up in the evacuation, and wrote on Twitter: “Terminal 2 being evacuated – no one clear why. First visit to the airport since lockdown…”
At about 1.45pm staff were being allowed to return inside the building.
It is thought passengers will be allowed back in shortly.
