Flights leaving Heathrow Terminal 3 were grounded on Friday (May 5) morning because of a security scare, the airport has said.

A suspicious package found in the building meant no flights were able to take off for a “short time”.

An airport spokeswoman said: “Departures were suspended for a short time from Terminal 3 due to a security issue.

“We are very sorry to any passengers whose journeys are affected. The safety and security of our passengers and colleagues is paramount.”

The Met Police say they were called at 8am following a report of a suspicious item detected by an X-ray of luggage.

A Scotland Yard statement added: “Officers are working with the airport authorities and enquiries continue.”

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What we know so far

We’ve put together this article explaining what we know so far following the security scare at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 building.

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Stuck on the tarmac

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Long queues

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View inside Terminal 3

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More from passenger

Citing the captain, Mr Chambers said that as a result, all flights from Terminal 3 were grounded.

While it was initially feared the passenger had run back on to the airside area of security from arrivals, it was later confirmed this was not the case.

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Passenger tells of 'security lapse'

Among those affected by the security scare was Tim Chambers, a passenger on a British Airways flight to Bilbao, Spain.

He told Press Association his plane was held on the tarmac for two hours due to a suspected “security lapse”, with each departing aircraft being searched by armed police.

Mr Chambers said the captain on his flight told passengers the delays were due to an incident involving a man said to have grabbed his bag and run through security after it had been pulled aside to be checked.

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What we know so far

Here’s a quick recap of what we know so far.

Flights departing from Heathrow Terminal 3 were temporarily grounded due to a security alert.

A “suspicious item” was found by an X-ray scan of baggage at the west London airport on Friday morning, the Metropolitan Police said.

It has since fully reopened.

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'Dogs and lots of armed police on the flight"

This video shows sniffer dogs checking a flight at Heathrow. Armed police are also aboard

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It is not known when the terminal reopened and when flights resumed. But this tweet from aviation police was posted shortly before 11am.

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Police: 'Suspicious item detected by X-ray'

Metropolitan Police were called at around 8am on Friday morning.

In a brief statement Scotland Yard said:

Police were called at approx 08:00hrs on Friday, 5 May to Heathrow Terminal 3, following a report of a suspicious item detected by an x-ray of luggage.

Officers are working with the airport authorities and enquiries continue.”

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Flights grounded

Heathrow Airport has confirmed the flights from Terminal 3 were grounded this morning...

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