The Channel Tunnel terminal in Folkestone was temporarily closed today after police stopped a “suspicious vehicle” and detained a man. Explosives experts from the Army were swiftly called to the scene on Friday morning, and authorities established a security cordon “for the safety of the public.”
Suspicion Arises
The incident unfolded at 10:30 AM on Friday, at the Cheriton entrance of the Channel Tunnel. In response, the terminal was immediately closed, causing significant disruptions to travel plans. LeShuttle, the service responsible for transporting vehicles through the tunnel, advised that travel would be “severely disrupted” throughout the afternoon due to this “rare” occurrence.
Ongoing Investigation
Kent Police have detained an individual in connection with the incident, and investigations are currently underway. Authorities, however, clarified that this incident is not related to the search for the missing terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife, who escaped from HMP Wandsworth prison earlier this week.
Travel Impact
LeShuttle conveyed updates via their social media platform, stating, “Due to a police incident, access to our site is unavailable. Incidents of this nature are extremely rare, and we’re grateful for your patience. As a consequence of this incident, travel will be severely disrupted throughout the afternoon; please prepare to modify your travel plans accordingly.”
Meanwhile, heightened security checks are being conducted at UK ports and airports as the search for the 21-year-old former soldier, Daniel Khalife, continues. The M20 coastbound carriageway approaching the Port of Dover, between Junctions 8 and 9, remains closed on Friday due to delays caused by these enhanced security measures.
This temporary closure is intended to allow freight bound for the continent to queue on the empty section of the motorway, minimizing disruption to Kent’s broader road network.
