Stansted Airdrome has been evacuated with passengers in the dark about exactly what'south happened.

People in the shops were asked to leave abandoning shopping carts with staff frantically closing upward the shutters.

One passenger said: "Stansted Airport has been partly evacuated. People asked to leave the stores leaving the shopping carts backside, and being closed in a hurry.

"What is going on please?"

Another person on Twitter wrote: "@Ryanair, [I'm] rammed in some kind of subterranean holding pit by [the] time [that my] flight to Cologne was scheduled to exit with no information or apology at Gate 30 Stansted Airport … what highly infectious pandemic???"

Another said: "@STN_Airport can you tell u.s.a. what is happening, please? Just been asked to vacate the last…. A niggling info would appease a lot of people."

Are you at the scene? Did yous see what happened? Please get in touch at charlie.jones@reachplc.com

For the latest updates on this developing story follow our live blog beneath.

Key Events

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Massive queues at the drome

Post-obit the earlier chaos, large queues remain at the airport security as people try get through to their flights.

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Cordon lifted and security area reopened

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Man arrested subsequently controlled explosion

Read the full story here.

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Constabulary use controlled explosion

Alarmed passengers, stranded outside the airport heard an explosion from inside.

Police force have confirmed this with a spokesperson saying: "Armed forces explosive experts have carried out a controlled explosion on the package, which has now been forensically recovered by police investigators.

"Initial assessments would indicate there was nothing of business concern inside the handbag."

Central Issue

Human arrested by Essex Police

The police have confirmed that a homo has been arrested and taken into custody.

Ian Molyneaux

Footage from before this afternoon

Footage from before this afternoon shows people waiting around, unsure what is happening.

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Suspicious package found in the security area

According to the latest update from the airport spokesperson, the suspicious parcel was in the security area.

Following this the area has been closed.

A spokesperson said: "Following reports of a suspicious parcel in the secuirty area a partial evacuation of the terminal has taken identify equally per standard procedure.

"This has resulted in our secuirty processing expanse being temporarily closed, and this may bear on passengers due to travel on outbound flights at this time."

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

People still stranded

The incident is ongoing with passengers still stuck outside the airport.

Passengers remain stuck exterior the terminal (Image: @AshUmJo)

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Wide cordon establiished

Constabulary have set a cordon, keeping members of the pubic away from whatsoever possible danger.

Police at the scene (Image: \due north@AshUmJo)

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

'Suspicious package' leads to flights being grounded

Read the full story here.

Key Consequence

Flights have been grounded

According to witnesses at the scene, flights have been grounded every bit the incident is dealt with.

No flights tin be seen leaving the drome on Flying Radar.

Passengers 'stranded' outside the airport (Prototype: Rob Maul)

KEY Outcome

Military explosive experts on the scene

A spokesperson for the constabulary said: "Nosotros're currently at Stansted Airport following concerns about a suspicious parcel in the security area.

"A cordon's been set upwardly.

"Passengers accept been evacuated from that area of the aerodrome and brought to a position of safety.

"Military explosive experts will assess the package

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Essex Police dealing with incident

According to a spokesperson for the airport, Essex Police are "managing the response" to the incident.

MyLondon has contacted the force for more information.

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Are you lot at the airport? We desire to hear from yous

Delight go far impact at charlie.jones@reachplc.com

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Video shows staff shuttering upwardly shops 'in a bustle'

KEY EVENT

Reports of a 'suspicious package'

A spokesperson for the airdrome said: "Following reports of a suspicious package in the security expanse, a partial evacuation of the terminal is taking identify.

"Essex Police are managing the response and will provide an update on the situation shortly."

Charlie Lawrence-Jones

What we know so far

  • Stansted Airport has been partially evacuated
  • Essex Police force are dealing with the incident
  • Travellers were forced to carelessness their luggage and personal belongings