Disruption goes on as JLA re-opens after security alert

Jul 1 2007

airport

LIVERPOOL'S John Lennon Airport re-opened early today after a suspicious vehicle found close to the terminal was removed for examination.

The airport was shut down by police at 8.30pm last night - just hours after a  burning Jeep had tried to plough into a terminal at Glasgow.

It re-opened at around 4.40am today, but the security alert has meant disruption for thousands of passengers due to travel into Liverpool today from across Europe.

Although departing flights appear to be operating as normal, inbound flights from Venice, Reus, Pisa, Krakow, Nice, Malaga, Rome, Riga and Faro are all marked 'cancelled' on the airport's flight information website.

In a statement, Merseyside Police confirmed the airport had re-opened. It said: "A vehicle has been removed from the airport and taken away for forensic testing. "Customers hoping to use the airport are advised that they should contact their airline to confirm whether their flight will be going ahead.

“Following the incident in Glasgow earlier, Merseyside police took the decision to close Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 8.30pm.

“The decision was made because the force has concerns about the possibility that a suspect vehicle might be parked at the airport."

Three planes landed at the airport moments after the security alert began. They were taken, along with people already waiting in the terminal - including passengers waiting for the 13 hours-late flyglobespan flight to New York - to local sports centres for the night.

That was organised by Liverpool City Council and a spokesman said that passengers were 'frustrated' but understood the need for precaution.

Meanwhile, in Liverpool city centre, an area around the Adelphi hotel was closed off overnight while police investigated a suspect package.

One eyewitness, Jo Schumacher said she and her family were evacuated from the Adelphi just before midnight.

She said: "Apparently, from speaking to a police office, they found a suspect package outside the Adelphi."

A police spokesman confirmed there had been 'an incident.'

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