Manchester Airport terminal re-opens after powder scare

An Explosive Ordinance Device team attended Terminal 3

Tests on a white powder which triggered a security alert at Manchester Airport have found the substance is harmless.

Security staff called police after a man tried to carry the unidentified powder on to an aircraft, and closed the departure area of Terminal 3.

But forensic tests found no evidence it could be used as an explosive device and the check-in desk has re-opened.

The substance was found in the hand luggage of man heading from Manchester to London. Police made no arrests.

'No risk'

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Supt Leor Giladi said: "Because the powder was unidentified we had to take every precaution to protect the safety of passengers at the airport.

"Public safety is our primary concern and that is why we had to take the action we did. Tests have been carried out on the substance that have concluded it could not have been used for any explosive purposes and there was absolutely no risk to anyone at the airport."

Some flights departing from the terminal were delayed, but the airport said arrivals and those leaving other terminals were not affected.

Other containers of the same substance were recovered from the man's main luggage and a chemical alert was declared.

A GMP spokesman said he could not reveal exactly what the substance was because the UK Border Agency was investigating whether there were any licensing issues with carrying it.

But he confirmed it was inert and neither a cosmetic item, nor a deodorant.