'Chemical incident' reported at London City airport

LONDON (AP) -- London City Airport was evacuated Friday and more than two dozen people treated for breathing difficulties after what the emergency services called a reported "chemical incident."

Police and fire officials were investigating the cause.

The London Fire Brigade said it was called just after 4 p.m. Friday afternoon to "reports of a chemical incident" at the airport.

It said "around 500 members of the public and staff have been evacuated and there are reports of a number of passengers feeling unwell."

The London Ambulance Service said four ambulance crews and its hazardous area response team were at the scene. It said crews treated 26 patients at the airport for difficulty breathing, and two people were taken to hospitals.

The Metropolitan Police force said officers were called to the airport just after 4 p.m. local time "following reports of passengers being taken unwell."

The airport said passengers were told to leave the terminal Friday afternoon because a fire alarm was sounding. Departing flights were suspended, and several incoming flights diverted to other airports.

City Airport, in east London's docklands, is the smallest of the British capital's international airports.