cruise ship evacuated after passenger makes bomb threat

The Ventura cruise ship was evacuated in Southampton following a security threat by a passenger (Picture: Getty Images)

A cruise ship was evacuated in Southampton after a passenger made a bomb threat onboard.

Holidaymakers were ordered to vacate the Ventura ship at the Mayflower cruise ferry terminal after a man claimed he had an explosive device.

The ship,operated by P&O Cruises,was cordoned off on Saturday while specialist officers searched a lorry.

No device was found and the suspect has been arrested on suspicion of a committing a public order offence and communicating false information.

One passenger was tucking into lunch when police descended on the area around the ship.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.He told the Daily Echo: ‘The captain made an announcement that we were in the bomb zone and we had to get out.’The unnamed 28-year-old said that the incident had left guests ‘frustrated’ at the start of their getaway.Police descended on the Mayflower cruise terminal following reports that a passenger had claimed to have an explosive device (Picture: Shutterstock)A statement from Hampshire Constabulary said that the vessel had been searched but that officers were now satisfied that there is ‘no risk to the public’.Associated British Ports,which operates the terminal,said it would ‘support any ongoing enquiries by the relevant authorities’.Normal operations have since resumed at the port.P&O Cruises said it had made the decision to evacuate passengers out of the ‘abundance of caution’.It said in a statement to ITV: ‘Due to an earlier police incident and in an abundance of caution,we made the decision to evacuate Ventura and the passenger terminal.‘The safety of our guests,crew and port staff is our highest priority and we are grateful for the co-operation of the authorities,as well as everyone’s patience whilst the precautionary measures were in place.’The Port of Southampton handles more than two million passengers annually across five terminals.