World enews: Rhode Island airport on lockdown over ‘security threat’

The Rhode Island TF Green International Airport is on lockdown as a possible “security threat” is evaluated.

Rhode Island State Police Col Darnell Weaver said that the threat “appears to be unfounded at this time”.

The airport wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter on Friday morning: “Rhode Island T.F. Green Airport is currently in lockdown as law enforcement addresses a potential security threat. Travelers are asked to delay arrivals at the airport at this time. More information will be provided when available.”

Both state and local police responded to the possible threat at the airport, according to WPRI.

“We received a call of a possible threat at the airport, multiple agencies are investigating now and conducting a search of the parking lots,” Warwick Police Chief Bradford Connor told the local TV station.

Col Weaver added that troopers have established a perimeter surrounding a parking garage, adding that a Warwick SWAT team was clearing that building.

“Preliminary, what we have is the call came into Warwick police about a potential suspect with a rifle,” Col Weaver said, according to WPRI. “They responded to the area, it was isolated to the parking garage, not the actual terminal.”

Police are telling travellers that the airport is closed and they have blocked the entrances.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation have said that all travel lanes going towards TF Green on the airport connector have also been blocked.

WJAR reporter Joanna Bouras tweeted: “Warwick Police, airport police, and Rhode Island State police are actively investigating at TF Green airport … several people are sitting across the street on Post Rd. waiting for information on their flights.”

“The Warwick Officer in Charge tells me someone called the police department saying they have a rifle and then hung up … they tell me they have not confirmed whether or not it’s true,” she added.

The caller said there was a man with a gun in a parking garage, prompting the arrival of the SWAT team.

Floridian Robert Souza told WPRI: “We were actually trying to get out of our hotel, trying to get an Uber, but couldn’t. The roads blocked off from both ways, couldn’t get in.”

“I couldn’t get off the Airport Connector to the airport, so I went onto Post Road and there are cops everywhere and just couldn’t get through,” Mary Lou Medeiros told the TV station. “Nobody knew what was going on initially, and there were two cops here and they said it was a security issue.”

WPRI reporter Tim White tweeted that “flights going into TF Green have been diverted to other airports after caller claims person with a gun was spotted in an airport parking garage. So far it’s unfounded”.

“Police urge you to avoid area as roads to the airport are closed,” he added.

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