France’s Toulouse airport evacuated for security reasons – reports

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in southern France has been evacuated for security reasons, reports on social media suggest. Even passengers on board planes reportedly had to disembark.

The airport was reportedly closed at approximately 6:45 a.m. local time (0545 GMT). Later reports on Twitter said that the evacuation was over and that people were going back to the airport building.

The airport later released a statement that its terminals have been reopened and that “air traffic is gradually resuming.”

Police patrols and military have been deployed in the airport, France Bleu newspaper reported.

“A group of CRS [Republican Security Companies troops] have arrived to secure the tracks and around the airport. They are conducting patrols, with identity checks and vehicle searches,” Frederic Roze from Haute Garonne prefecture, told the paper.

Airlive.net, however, reported that the airport was evacuated due to a security breach, not a suspicious package.

Europe is on high alert following the deadly Brussels attacks. Three bombs at the city's Zaventem International Airport and Maalbeek metro station reportedly killed at least 31 people and injured more than 250.

For the first time in the country’s history, Belgium has raised its terror threat alert to the highest, fourth level, the country's prime minister said.