A security scare that led to a partial lockdown and flight delays at Victoria's Avalon Airport was caused by a laser hair removal device, police have confirmed.
Victoria police said the suspicious item was discovered during a security check shortly after 6am on Thursday, prompting the evacuation of part of the airport and the cordoning off of an area as a precaution.
Inspector Nick Uebergang said the Bomb Response Unit was called in and determined the item to be a laser hair removal device, along with a cardboard-cylinder hot chocolate container. A man was detained after the package was found in his bag on a conveyor belt.
Inspector Uebergang noted that the man was uncooperative initially, which prolonged the response. 'It probably could have averted things, and we could have got out of here a lot quicker. He wasn't giving us too much information at all on what was in his bag,' he said.
An Avalon Airport spokesperson praised the vigilance of security processes, stating that precautionary measures were taken immediately to ensure safety. Several travellers reported delays and confusion, with one passenger describing the scene as 'a bit of mayhem' and another noting long queues and blocked access.
