LONDON

A bomb disposal team was deployed to London Gatwick Airport after a large part of its South Terminal was evacuated following discovery of a "suspected prohibited item in luggage," police said Friday.

Gatwick announced that a large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while they continue to investigate a "security incident."

“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority," it wrote on X.

Sussex Police said a bomb disposal team was being deployed to the airport following the discovery of a "suspected prohibited item” in luggage.

The incident followed a controlled explosion in the vicinity of the US Embassy in London after a suspicious package was identified in the area early Friday.