Passengers have been evacuated from Manchester airport after reports of a suspicious package in terminal two.

The terminal remains closed as Greater Manchester police investigate the incident.

“Terminal two remains closed while Greater Manchester police continue to assess reports of a suspicious package there,” a Manchester airport spokesperson said in a statement. “All flights will operate from terminal one until further notice. We thank passengers for their patience and ask them to follow directions given to them by staff.”

In a previous statement, the airport said a “controlled evacuation” was taking place, adding: “We are in close contact with Greater Manchester police, who are managing the response, and will provide an update on the situation as soon as possible.”

The airport also confirmed flights due to operate in and out of terminal two were likely to be diverted to terminal one, according to a report in the Manchester Evening News.

The nature of the package is still unclear, but it was reported that a traveller “triggered” the evacuation while passing through security at about 3.20pm, with a scanner believed to have picked up something suspicious.

Police had blocked all approaches to the terminal as part of the evacuation.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester police told the Manchester Evening News: “Police were called with a report of a suspicious package in terminal two of Manchester airport at about 3.20pm today. The terminal has been evacuated as per standard procedure and a cordon has been put in place as a safety precaution while an assessment is carried out.”

The airport’s other terminals, one and three, are located on the other side of the airport and continue to operate as usual.