Manchester Airport train station has been evacuated as police respond to ‘reports of a suspicious package’.
A spokesman for the airport confirmed an area surrounding the train station has been evacuated.
The incident is affecting bus and Metrolink services.
Flights have
Travelers in the area said there were police and dog units seen in the area.
Stagecoach said bus services will be terminating at Radisson Blue, due to an area around the bus station being closed.
Metrolink services on the Manchester Airport line can only travel from Victoria to Wythenshawe town center.
Passengers are able to use their tickets on bus routes.
In a statement Metrolink said: “Due to a police incident at Manchester Airport, services on the Manchester Airport line will onl y operate from Victoria – Wythenshawe town center. “
Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for a comment.
More to follow …
KEY EVENT
Airport security alert ‘sparked by naked man running around coach station’
Train station remains closed
There is still a long queue of passengers outside the station.
Passengers are now being allowed across the road
Roads surrounding the airport are becoming congested.
Helen Johnson
This is the slip road from the motorway to the airport right now
Simon Smith
‘It’s difficult to move around the airport site right now’
Our reporter Helen, who is at the airport, says the traffic situation is now getting worse …
Police cordon
This is the police cordon in place at the scene , it covers quite a large area.
Simon Smith
Police confirm a controlled explosion has taken place
Bomb disposal officers are at **** airport transport interchange to assist GMP with enquiries.
As part of their assessment to ensure the package is safe, a controlled explosion took place.
The cordon will remain in place as a precautionary measure as enquiries continue.
Helen Johnson
The queue for the taxis …
KEY EVENT
An eyewitness said she just head a controlled explosion at the airport.
Caroline Watson, a coach driver in the area, said:
I heard a big bang, a controlled
“It was pretty loud. I am quite a way away from the actual building. ”
‘All passengers can do is wait’
‘He had no clothing on whatsover’
Caroline Watson, coach driver, said she saw a man running around naked at the coach station. She said:
The voyager building has just been evacuated, staff are coming to the car park.
“Some of the air cabin crew that park there have been turned away. It is like a mass exodus. All hell has broken loose.
“The guy was running around with his arms waving in the air, going up and down.
“He was running back and forth. He was going in and out of the terminus.
“He had no clothing on whatsover. It is not what you expect to see at 6. 10 am on a Monday morning. ”
Simon Smith
This is the advice from Greater Manchester Police
Police say that although Manchester Airport is still open, there are cordons in place and people should ‘follow direction s from officers’.
This is what Greater Manchester Police have said on Twitter:
A cordon is in place at Manchester Airport transport interchange and people are encouraged to follow directions from officers.
Trams, trains and buses are currently suspended to and from the airport interchange.
Thank you for your patience as we respond to this.
Simon Smith
All lines to Manchester Airport are closed
Crowds outside the station
This was the scene outside the train station earlier this morning.
‘We are now at the airport terminal wondering what to do’
Amanda McFebden was trying to get home on a train to Glasgow but cannot access the train station. She said:
When I got there everybody was evacuated. Ten to 15 minutes later they ushered us to a side entrance.
“We got through and then we had to leave again. We walked upstairs and were there for another 10 to 15 minutes.
“We were evacuated again. We are now at the airport terminal wondering what to do.
“There is a lot of people here – around 50 to 100.
“People are concerned they are not going places. Everyone is waiting and does not know what is going on.
“There is a lot of police at the there. There were three of four police cars, more have arrived now.
“I am about to miss my train home to Glasgow in 20 minutes. ”
KEY EVENT
Police ‘currently responding to reports of suspicious package’
Police have confirmed th ey are ‘currently responding’ to reports of suspicious package at Manchester Airport. This is the full statement from GMP:
Officers are currently responding to reports of a suspicious package at Manchester Airport transport interchange.
Further enquiries are being carried out and bomb disposal officers are on their way to assist with these
A man has been detained by police at the scene.
A cordon is in place at Manchester Airport transport interchange and people are encouraged to follow directions from officers.
Trams, trains and buses are currently suspended to and from the airport interchange.
Thank you for your patience as we respond to this.
Advice to train passengers
Simon Smith
All rail services from Manchester Piccadilly to Airport suspended
We’re also getting messages from people who say they are already on trains heading to the airport, which are now being tur ned around.
Pictures from the scene
This is the current scene at Manchester Airport. Eyewitneses have described the situation as “chaos”.
Advice for Metrolink passengers
Bus services affected
The latest from Stagecoach on affected bus services:
A view from a nearby office
Staff evacuated from surrounding offices
Staff members working in offices near to the train station have also been evacuated.
One worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, said:
(There are police everywhere, lots of armed police and ambulances.
“There are lots of police and unmarked vehicles as well.
“The train station is also an office building, nobody is being allowed into work.
“ People are confused they thought it was to do with Thomas Cook initially. ”
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