Explosion and fires at Amsterdam airport

An explosion and two fires forced the evacuation of Amsterdam's Schiphol airport today, delaying about 40 arriving and departing…

An explosion and two fires forced the evacuation of Amsterdam's Schiphol airport today, delaying about 40 arriving and departing flights.

Airport police said the fire was under control and there were no injuries.

A police spokesman said, "it was an explosion in the Burger King restaurant and separate fire in the second floor of anoffice building, he said. The restaurant explosion also created a large fire".

The blast occurred just after 15.30 GMT, according to a spokeswoman for Schiphol, Ms Ingrid Pauw."The office fire came just after the explosion", she said.

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Police did not yet know the cause of the explosion or the separate fire.

"The fire was under control but parts of the airport were still closed", Ms Pauw said.

"Trains were stopping again at the airport, but about 40 incoming and outgoing flights were delayed", she said.

Witnesses earlier reported thick black smoke had billowing from the airport roof.

It was the second fire at the airport this year. In January, Schipol was closed for several hours after a blast in a toilet in the arrivals hall and a separate fire. Police ruled out explosives in that blast, saying it had probably been caused by a gas leak.