Woman 'carrying a bomb runs through security and crowd' at Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt : Parts of a terminal at Germany's busiest airport in Frankfurt have been shut down completely and evacuated after a woman suspected of carrying a bomb fled from a security checkpoint to melt into the crowds.

People arriving on jets from across the world were forced to sit and wait in their planes on runways and holding areas while the hunt for the suspect continued.

Media reports said the woman was stopped near gate A at Terminal One but fled through to the security area without being searched. 

The suspicion is that she had an explosive device, or components for one, in her hand luggage.

Incredibly she managed to flee with her carry on bag and lose herself amid the thousands of people in the terminal.

But police say they are confident of finding the suspect swiftly as she has nowhere to flee to in the sealed departure zone.  

Passengers have been ordered to leave terminals A and A+ 'immediately' amid reports a person ran through security gates without completing security checks and then escaped into the crowd.

Officials at the airport wrote on Twitter confirmed a person had breached the security without undergoing required searches.

The message said: 'Today at Frankfurt Airport a passenger entered the security area before the security check had been completed.

'Therefore the German federal police cleared departure hall A as a preventative measure. Passengers will be rechecked prior to departure.'

According to Bild, passengers were told over loudspeakers: 'All visitors are asked to leave the building immediately. Levels 1 and 2 of the terminal to be evacuated.'

A Federal police spokesman said the person is not in custody adding that it is unclear whether the security breach was accidental or planned. They have also admitted that they don't know whether the suspect was carrying 'any forbidden items'.

Furious passengers demanded more information on Twitter with one saying: 'What a mess evacuation of #frankfurt #airport. No information. Thousands passengers don't know where to go. Nobody knows anything.'

Others said the evacuation was due to a 'bomb scare'. 

Frankfurt Airport is Europe's fourth busiest, with a capacity of about 65million passengers a year. It is also themain hub for the airline Lufthansa.