UK authorities conducted a "controlled explosion" outside the American embassy in London on Friday after they found a "suspicious package"

The incident prompted the evacuation of a "large part" of Gatwick Airport's south terminal as a precaution

“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident. Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing

Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible”, London Gatwick (LGW) said in a tweet

The US embassy confirmed that a suspicious package was under investigation, and local authorities closed a nearby road

"We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers

Enquiries are still ongoing, and cordons will remain in place for the time being," the police stated on X

The US embassy confirmed that a suspicious package was under investigation, and local authorities closed a nearby road