SYDNEY, May 2_(Kyodo) - A bomb scare at New Zealand's Christchurch International Airport on Tuesday caused two international flights from Japan to be diverted to the northern city of Auckland, police said.
Police Inspector Andy McGregor told Kyodo News a suspicious package was found in the male toilet of the arrivals terminal at 5:20 a.m.
"Because of that we activated the bomb squad who arrived shortly after and they pulled the parcel apart. However there was no explosives at all found and the airport resumed normally," McGregor said.
The airport was closed until 9 a.m., during which time two Air New Zealand flights from Japan's Narita and Kansai airports had to be diverted to Auckland.
Airline spokesman Rosie Paul said the approximately 300 passengers affected were subsequently flown to Christchurch.
