Electrical items trigger an evacuation at city airport

EDINBURGH Airport was evacuated after ordinary electrical items in a passenger's luggage sparked a major security alert.

The items, believed to be computer parts, triggered an evacuation of the terminal building and delays to some flights.

The army bomb squad and police were called to the airport at around 11.20am yesterday after the alarm was sparked by a security scanner.

Two fire engines also raced to the airport in case of an explosion.

An examination of the contents of the suitcase quickly proved it posed no threat and passengers were let back in after waiting about 40 minutes.

A spokesman from the army confirmed that electrical equipment had caused the scare.

The passenger was interviewed by police but no arrests were made.

A spokesman from Edinburgh Airport said: "We evacuated the terminal and cordoned off the area. We were then able to investigate the package and make sure it was safe."