Manchester Airport Terminal Shut in Security Alert

British authorities evacuated a terminal at Manchester Airport in northwest England Wednesday while bomb disposal experts investigated a suspicious device, police said.

A man was being interviewed under anti-terrorism legislation after police were made aware of a "suspicious bag" in Terminal 1 shortly before 07:30 GMT, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

"As a precaution Terminal 1 has been closed while the device is examined and bomb disposal experts have been called," the statement said.

Phil Davies, the police commander at the airport, said: "This is not a decision that is taken lightly but the safety of passengers and staff is our primary concern.

"We are working as quickly as possible to resolve this situation without compromising our ongoing work. I must stress that at this time the item is being treated as a suspicious device and nothing more."

An airport spokesman said a small number of flights had been delayed.

The bag was "either picked up as suspicious by our security staff or X-ray" in the departures area, adding: "It is currently being examined and the passenger was taken away."