Man arrested after Heathrow terminal evacuated

LONDON - A man was arrested under the Terrorism Act after a terminal at Heathrow airport was evacuated today because of a suspicious bag, police said.

Passengers were allowed back into Terminal 2 after the bag was checked and cleared by specialist officers.

An airport source, who declined to be identified, said a police swab test for explosives on the bag had showed positive, but that it was not a viable bomb.

A police spokeswoman declined comment on whether explosive substances had been detected but said a man had been arrested under the Terrorism Act and was being questioned by officers.

She gave no further details.

A man was seen running in and dropping a bag at the check-in area, airport personnel had said earlier.

BAA said the terminal was evacuated in early afternoon after the suspect bag was found. It reopened at 5pm, it said.

"Some disruption to Terminal 2 operations should be expected for the remainder of the day," a BAA spokesman said.

Terminal 2 serves European destinations from Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports.

- REUTERS