Stansted Airport has been partially evacuated after reports of a 'suspicious package' in the security area prompted military explosive experts to be sent in.
Airport officials said a partial evacuation of the terminal is taking place due to the discovery, with a large cordon in place as of 3.15pm.
People left the airport in a panicked 'rush' as police officers ordered them outside, a witness said.
Hundreds of passengers and airline staff are now standing in the airport car park following the evacuation.
Multiple people at the airport reported hearing a bang sound shortly before 4pm in what is believed to have been a controlled explosion, although police are yet to confirm this.
The airport did not answer when asked whether those who've missed their flights will be allocated a new service today.
A Stansted spokesperson said: “Following reports of a suspicious package in the security area a partial evacuation of the terminal has taken place as per standard procedure.
Have you been caught up in the evacuation? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk
“This has resulted in our security processing area being temporarily closed, and this may impact passengers due to travel on outbound flights at this time.
“Arriving flights are operating as normal.
“Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline.”
Military explosive experts are heading to the scene to inspect the package, Essex Police said.
Harry Vogler, 13, who was travelling to Greece with his mum, told The Mirror that police started shouting 'get out' at passengers earlier this afternoon.
He said this sparked a 'rush' to leave the airport among panicked passengers.
The youngster, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, added that he and others had already been evacuated once before but people had started to wander back into the airport as it was not clear whether the incident was over.
He told The Mirror: "(During the first evacuation) I could see flight attendants and airport workers directing a group of people out so we turned around and left.
"After about two to three minutes we saw people start to wander back in. Airport staff weren't doing anything about it so we went inside. We were inside waiting with a massive group of people.
"Then it escalated quickly and police officers started shouting to get out.
"They said 'get out the doors' it wasn't very controlled.
"There was a rush. People were pressing past each other. We were feeling confused and a little bit panicked from the complete lack of information. We found more out from Twitter than from people inside."
Harry and his mum have now missed their flight and they are waiting outside the airport with everyone else.
Footage from the airport shows a crush of people outside the airport attempting to get in following false rumours that the incident was over.
It is not clear whether those who have missed their flights will be allocated a new service today.
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Essex Police tweeted: "We're currently at Stansted Airport following concerns about a suspicious package in the security area.
"A cordon's been set up. Passengers have been evacuated from that area of the airport and brought to a position of safety.
"Military explosive experts will assess the package."
Asha Umrawsingh, who was evacuated from the airport, told The Mirror: "We were about to go through security and they asked us to move back and then out of the terminal.
"People were a bit confused as no announcement was made about the suspicious package. There are now a few hundred people outside the airport."
Dr David de Lorenzo tweeted: "Stansted Airport has been partly evacuated. People asked to leave the stores leaving the shopping carts behind, and being closed in a hurry."
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