UPDATED: Torp Airport in Sandefjord, south of Oslo, was evacuated Thursday afternoon after an “unidentifed object” was found in an airport lavatory. A team of investigators who specialize in disarming bombs was sent to the airport and could later determine the object was not dangerous.
The bomb alarm was called off Thursday evening and the mysterious object turned over to police. Evacuated passengers and airport employees were allowed to return to the terminal buildings and flights were due to resume.
“It’s a bit chaotic here right now,” one taxi driver told state broadcaster NRK when the evacuation was underway. “People have been running out of the terminal.”
Cut-rate carrier Ryan Air is among the airlines using Torp, but it was mostly domestic flights that were disrupted by the evacuation Thursday afternoon. Incoming flights were allowed to land but kept away from the airport buildings.
Anne Meyer, operations leader for the Vestfold Police District, confirmed to NRK that the entire airport was evacuated, not just the passenger terminal. The airport’s parking lot was also cordoned off.
The “unidentified object” was found by an airport employee who reported it to airport authorities, who quickly called police. It will now be examined by crime technicians, stated the Vestfold police in a press release.
newsinenglish.no staff
