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Security Breach at Germany's Cologne Bonn Airport Sparks Evacuation

Flights were halted and passengers evacuated from a German airport after a man allegedly entered a restricted area without going through security.
Image: A police officer stands in front of passengers lining-up at the entrance to Cologne airport following security alert
A police officer stands in front of passengers lining-up at the entrance to Cologne airport on Monday.WOLFGANG RATTAY / Reuters

MAINZ, Germany — Flights were halted and passengers were evacuated from a German airport terminal Monday after a man allegedly entered a restricted area without going through security, officials said.

Image: A police officer stands in front of passengers lining-up at the entrance to Cologne airport following security alert
A police officer stands in front of passengers lining-up at the entrance to Cologne airport on Monday.WOLFGANG RATTAY / Reuters

The suspect was arrested following the alleged security breach at Cologne Bonn Airport's Terminal 1, a German federal police spokeswoman told NBC News.

The man walked through an exit and into an area meant for arriving passengers traveling with only hand luggage at around 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET), according to a statement from the airport.

The terminal was out of action for around 2 ½ hours while teams with sniffer dogs hunted the suspect and searched the terminal for dangerous materials, according to the airport.

While five flights were hit by the disruption, Terminal 2 was not affected and officials said they were not aware of any threats to the airport.

Neither police nor officials at the western German airport would provide further details about the incident or suspect.

Image: Cologne Bonn Airport
Cologne Bonn Airport on Oct. 31, 2010.INA FASSBENDER / Reuters