Manchester Airport station is evacuated as armed police arrest man and bomb squad experts examine a suspicious package
- A suspicious package was spotted at Manchester Airport station this morning
- The station has been evacuated, delaying those hoping to board flights
- Police say a man has been arrested and bomb squad officers drafted in
Manchester Airport railway station has been evacuated this morning after a suspicious package was found.
Passengers travelling to board flights were delayed and office workers ordered to leave their desks as armed police and explosives experts flooded the airport, which is to the south of the city.
Police say man was arrested at the scene as bomb squad officers investigate the package.
The bomb squad was called to Manchester Airport after a suspicious package was found
Police say a man has been arrested at the scene as officers investigate the package
Workers usually at their desks in the offices above the station were evacuated to the streets
A local worker said: ‘There are police everywhere, lots of armed police and ambulances. There are lots of 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.’
A police spokesman said earlier: ‘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 enquiries.
‘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.’
Passengers trying to get to and from Manchester Airport were kept out of the station today after a suspicious package was found and a man was arrested
Pictures from outside the cordon show officers working in the station following the evacuation
A spokesman for National Rail said: ‘The police are dealing with an incident at Manchester Airport, and this is causing disruption to trains at the station. Trains may be delayed by up to 30 minutes or cancelled until approximately 11:00.’
Trains between Liverpool and Manchester Airport have been cancelled, while services between Liverpool and Crewe will not call at Manchester Airport.
Trains between Barrow-in-Furness will start and terminate at Manchester Oxford Road or Preston and trains between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport will start and terminate at Manchester Piccadilly.
Flights have not been delayed by the ongoing incident but it is affecting bus and Metrolink tram services.
Stagecoach said bus services will be terminating at the Radisson Blu hotel, 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 centre.