An Air Force base in Italy was placed on lockdown on Wednesday morning "due to an ongoing situation" at one of its entry points. It later emerged the order was issued after security forces received word of a possible car bomb targeting the facility.

       The Naval Air Station Sigonella (NAS Sigonella) issued a statement on its official Facebook page, in which it warned there was an "ongoing situation" at one of its areas, known as NAS 2.

       A statement issued by the base read: "Due to an ongoing situation at the NAS Sigonella (NAS 2) entry control point, a lockdown/shelter-in-place remains in effect.

       "All personnel onboard NAS 2 are directed to follow the instructions from Naval Security Forces and monitor AtHoc for updates.

       "Inbound and outbound traffic at the NAS 2 base entry control points is secured. Traffic has been redirected to the East ITAF Gate. Personnel should avoid traveling on highway SP105 between Marinai Housing Complex and NAS 2."

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       Authorities evacuated a gate at the base and locked down the facilities there for several hours as they investigated, the US Navy said in a statement. Officials later determined there was no threat.

       A US military statement from the base explained that Italian police and bomb squad members "inspected the package and determined it was not a threat".

       It added: "We are grateful to our Navy Security Force personnel for their quick response."

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       An Italian defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said that it was a “false alarm that triggered all the due procedures.”

       The Sigonella airport, also known as Cosimo Di Palma airport, is a military air hub located near the city of Catania, on the Italian island of Sicily and controlled by the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (the Italian air force).

       It is also home to the Naval Air Station Sigonella (or NAS Sigonella) controlled by the US Air Force. The NAS 2 area includes a defence deposit used by the States as a logistic base.

       NAS Sigonella hosts U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, as well as MQ-4C Triton drones. U.S. Space Force personnel who work on identifying possible missile threats in the region are also based there.