British police sent an explosive ordnance disposal team to London's Gatwick Airport after a suspected prohibited item was discovered in luggage, a local force said in a statement.

The airport says the evacuation is a precaution while it investigates, with passengers unable to enter the South Terminal while the investigation is in progress. The airport says the North Terminal is operating normally. National Rail says no trains will be stopping at the airport station while the incident is investigated.

UK police said Friday officers had carried out a controlled explosion after a suspicious package which turned out to be a “hoax device” was found outside the United States embassy in London. The capital’s Metropolitan Police force conducted the explosion after setting up cordons near the high-security site in Nine Elms,