Gatwick Airport's North Terminal was evacuated this morning after a Frenchman approached an Easyjet check-in desk carrying two guns.
After being challenged by Easyjet staff the 41-year-old sprinted from the North Terminal into the level-two multi-storey car park where he was seen to throw one of his firearms into a rubbish bin.
Airport staff and police continued to chase the man and when he was arrested moments after, he was found to have a second gun strapped to his body.
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Witnesses said that armed police screamed 'get down, get down' before they restrained him.
It was understood that police were treating the incident as an act of terrorism and the suspect, who was confirmed as being from Vendôme in France, was taken to the custody cells at the airport's police station.
A 100 metre cordon was thrown around the bin in the multi-storey car park as bomb squad officers were called to the scene to examine the weapon which had been discarded inside it.
As a precaution they carried out a small controlled explosion.
Armed police already on patrol at the terminal were alerted to the Frenchman's 'suspicious' behaviour after he was challenged at the Easyjet check-in desk at about 9.30am.
A source said that it was unclear whether the man had intended to use the guns at the airport or to try to board a plane with them.
'Our officers are treating this as an act of aggression,' an anonymous source who works at Gatwick said earlier.
He added: 'It is a very scary situation and coming after the terrible events in Paris overnight, is extremely worrying. The fact that he had two weapons with him tends to suggest that something horrific was being planned.'
Senior officers from Sussex Police were called to the airport's police station and were understood to have convened a 'Silver' control meeting to discuss the security breach.
Police, fire and security officials gathered outside Gatwick's North Terminal as the drama unfolded
Police said they were called at around 9.30am on Saturday morning following 'suspicious actions by a man who discarded an item at the airport'
Passengers at Gatwick pictured in the rain as security staff moved them away from the terminal building
Detective Superintendent Nick May said: 'The man is being interviewed as we try to determine the circumstances of the incident, but at this time it is too early to say what his intentions, if any, were.
'However, given the events in Paris on Friday evening, there is heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness.
'We are aware that there is concern about what has happened in France, but the general threat level remains the same and people should be aware as usual of anyone acting suspiciously and report any concerns immediately.'
Sussex police added in a statement: '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.'
They also stressed that the Frenchman was 'landside' at the airport and had not checked in or passed through any passport or security checks.
Eyewitness Tim Unwin, a geography lecturer at the University of London, tweeted earlier that the north terminal was in a 'shutdown situation' and that he'd overheard there 'might be need for controlled explosion'.
It's understood that passengers were moved to Jubilee House near the North Terminal, then a Sofitel hotel. Hotels near the terminal handed out teas and coffees as the drama unfolded.
Five Gatwick staff members pictured outside the North Terminal as passengers wait in a nearby hotel
The evacuation comes in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris that have left 127 dead
However, there were complaints about conditions.
Mr Unwin added: 'Very cramped in Sofitel - passengers are now beginning to get frustrated - would like to be given some information.'
Passengers due to land at the North Terminal arrived at the South Terminal during the evacuation. The North Terminal was re-opened at around 4pm, around six hours after the lockdown began.
A Gatwick Airport spokesman said: 'Following a full and thorough search by the police, we are now able to re-open our North Terminal to passengers. Passengers should check with their airlines for information about their journey.
'Our priority is always the safety and welfare of our passengers and extra Gatwick staff are on hand to assist those who have experienced significant disruption to their journey today.
'We are working with our airlines to return North Terminal to usual operations. South Terminal is operating as normal.'
The drama at Gatwick followed terrorist attacks in Paris that have left 127 dead.
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