Alerts shut Los Angeles airport

Los Angeles airport has had security scares before

Parts of Los Angeles international airport were shut down for four hours on Saturday after two security scares.

One alert was caused when a passenger went through the wrong channel and bypassed security checks.

The other was caused by a "loud sound", possibly the battery of a torch exploding as it was being handled for security screening, the FBI said.

Several terminals were evacuated during the scare, and planes were prevented from taking off.

All roads to and from the airport were blocked, and thousands of passengers were herded onto the streets outside the terminal buildings.

Backlogs

The US airports authority gave the all-clear about four hours after the first incident.

Officials said they did not believe the incidents were linked, or connected to terrorism.

They said terminals 6, 7 and 8 were getting back to normal, and backlogs were expected to be cleared without too much delay.

The first incident occurred at about 0730 (1430 GMT) when a man went through an exit channel and was not stopped. Three connected terminals were shut down as staff tried to find him.

About 40 minutes later, an official said, "passenger screeners were checking the bag of a passenger on the north side of the checkpoint. There was [a] small explosion that slightly injured several people.

"The passenger with the bag is being questioned. Preliminary reports indicate the explosion may have been caused by flashlight batteries, but the investigation is ongoing."

Nervous

Los Angeles airport, often known by its LAX code, is one of the world's busiest airports.

The BBC's David Willis says the authorities at Los Angeles can be more nervous than elsewhere, as they have had serious security threats before.

It was the target of a bomb plot that was foiled before it could be put into action around New Year's Day 2000.

On 4 July 2002, three people were shot dead at the ticket desk of the Israeli El Al airline.