‘Armed’ Frenchman held at Gatwick airport

A 41-year-old Frenchman was on Saturday arrested at Britain’s second busiest airport Gatwick with a weapon that appeared to be a firearm, following the evacuation of a terminal, the police said.

“Due to an incident — the North Terminal has been evacuated as a precautionary measure. Extra staff on-site looking after passenger welfare,” the airport said.

The Sussex police said the Frenchman was arrested after he “discarded an item” at the airport. “Personal items and what appears to be a firearm were recovered and have been removed for forensic examination.

However, the viability of the weapon has yet to be established,” Sussex police said in a statement.