Traffic queues form near the airport

Gatwick Express, which provides rail services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria, has urged passengers to avoid traveling to the airport while the police investigation is ongoing.

The operator added that local buses cannot run to the airport due to local road closures.

The station and the airport’s south terminal are currently being evacuated while police deal with an incident. If you plan to travel to the airport, please postpone your trip until later today

Local buses are also affected and unable to run to Gatwick Airport, so we advise you to avoid using this route.

We have also been advised of local road closures so if you are driving to the airport please be aware of this when planning your journey. Please do not travel to the station at this time.

Sussex Police said they were called to the South Terminal at 8.20am following the discovery of a “suspected prohibited item in luggage”.

A bomb squad was sent to the busy terminal as a “precaution”. Police did not elaborate further on the nature of the discovery.

Eyewitnesses told MailOnline they saw police with “explosive” patches on their jackets and sniffer dogs entering the terminal.

A passenger told a MailOnline reporter: ‘Not much going on here. The passengers know nothing.

Here’s the latest from our reporter Jon Brady…

The evacuation was reportedly ordered after a suspicious package was identified in the security screening area of ​​the South Terminal, according to The Times.

Explosives experts are said to be at the scene assessing the threat.

We are seeing reports on social media of confused passengers at Gatwick Airport after the South Terminal was evacuated this morning.

Travelers shared images of large crowds leaving the airport, prompting scenes of apparent chaos.

We will bring you more information as we can

Video shared on social media showed dozens of passengers walking outside the terminal as security staff investigated the incident.

Gatwick Airport said in a statement on X:

Much of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident.

Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is in progress.

The safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal was evacuated this morning following an unspecified “security” incident.

Airport bosses began investigating a security incident around 9am on Friday before ordering passengers to leave.

Eyewitnesses said even passengers who had passed through security were evacuated from the airport, near Crawley, West Sussex.

Gatwick Express services will not stop at the station until further notice. The train operator advised passengers to suspend their journeys.