Army explosive experts were called in to inspect a suspicious vehicle in the Channel Tunnel on Friday, creating additional delays for travellers as the hunt for a former British soldier suspected of terrorism offences continues.
One man was arrested after the incident, which police said is not linked to the search for Daniel Khalife, who went missing from HMP Wandsworth in London on Wednesday.
“Explosives experts from the British Army have been called to the scene and a cordon has been put in place for the safety of the public. This is currently having an effect on traffic approaching the terminal,” police said.
According to reports, the vehicle was stopped during a routine security check at about 10.30am.
Le Shuttle, which operates trains that carry vehicles through the tunnel between England and France, said access to its terminal was suspended and services were likely to be severely disrupted.
Security services are carrying out enhanced checks at UK departure points in an effort to find the escaped prisoner, which had already resulted in delays at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Kent.
Police said in a separate statement that two junctions on the motorway that leads to the terminal had been closed as a result of the enhanced checks.
Passengers leaving from UK airports and ports have also experienced longer wait times since Wednesday as a result of the search.
Mr Khalife, 21, is believed to have escaped by slipping out of the prison kitchen where he was working and strapping himself to the bottom of a grocery delivery van.
Police closed Richmond Park in south-west London while a search was carried out for him in the early hours of Friday. It was paused overnight but resumed at daylight.
Mr Khalife was awaiting trial for allegedly planting a fake bomb at an RAF base and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK.
He is also facing accusations that he passed information to Iran, according to reports.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
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50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
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Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
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