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Berlin airport Terminal 1 evacuated following luggage security alert

German federal police cleared the public area after a traveler claimed to have a dangerous substance in her baggage.

The short version

  • Federal police evacuated the public area of Terminal 1 at Berlin Brandenburg Airport on Thursday evening.
  • The alert was triggered after a woman told security personnel that her luggage contained a hazardous substance.
  • Inbound flights and prepared departures continued, while passenger processing was shifted to Terminal 2 where possible.
  • Authorities have not yet determined whether the substance posed a genuine hazard or the full extent of flight disruptions.

Key facts

  • Germany's federal police ordered the evacuation of the public area of Terminal 1 at Berlin Brandenburg Airport around 5:45 p.m. on Thursday.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The evacuation was initiated after a passenger stated to security screeners that she was carrying a dangerous substance in her luggage.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Planes that were already prepared for departure were permitted to take off, incoming flights continued landing, and passenger processing was partially moved to Terminal 2.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Berlin Brandenburg Airport is Germany's third-busiest airport, serving approximately 26 million travelers annually.[Deutsche Welle]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains unverified whether the reported substance posed a genuine threat or what specific material was involved.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The full extent of flight delays and cancellations resulting from the incident has not been determined.[Deutsche Welle]

Sources