A man found carrying two bags while walking on a runway at Rome's Ciampino airport on July 2 resulted in an extended overnight shutdown of the facility and flight cancellations and delays on July 3.

The 31-year-old Eritrean was seen on the runway by the pilot of a cargo plane that was preparing for take-off, police at the airport said. Police detained the man and blew up his bags with a controlled explosion, but nothing suspicious was found in them.

Officials said it was not yet clear how and why the man entered the fenced airport, a hub for low-cost airlines. The airport also has a military wing used by the air force as well as Italian and foreign dignitaries on state visits. The man was released after being reported to prosecutors for violating security measures, police said.

Ciampino, which usually shuts down at night, was closed following the incident around 9 p.m. (1900GMT) and reopened only after police completed a sweep of the airport. At least four low-cost flights were canceled and others delayed before the airport reopened at 7:40 a.m. (0540GMT) on July 3, instead of the usual 6 a.m.