The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island was temporarily shut down and the surrounding area closed off by police due to a reported bomb threat on Sunday.
Details remain limited, but heavy police presence had blocked all incoming traffic to Beef Island via the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, the only access point linking the island to Tortola for a period of time this evening
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has not yet confirmed specifics about the nature of the threat.
284Media received initial reports of the incident around 6:30 pm on Sunday. Footage showed police presence at the bridge as RVIPF officers restricted access to the small island that hosts the Territory’s main airport terminal.
The BVI Airports Authority quickly released a statement to the public on the matter.
“The British Virgin Islands Airports Authority is advising the travelling public of the immediate closure of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport today, Sunday, May 5. Managing Director, Mr. Kurt Menal said the closure is as result of a bomb threat which is being treated as legitimate and resulted in the activation of the Authority’s Contingency plan”, it said.
An all-clear has since been issued.