Travellers claim police at an airport in Rome "blew up" a suspicious piece of luggage only to discover that the contents were a bit... nuts.

Freelance journalist Ned Donovan said he was amazed to witness Italian police forcibly open the bag in the middle of the concourse - moving travellers about 10 metres back.​

Once the suitcase was opened, dozens of COCONUTS were laid bare for all to see.

He wrote on Twitter: "Amazing, the Italian police have blown up a bag full of coconuts and have now reopened Rome airport.

"There’s so much about this incident that I enjoyed and also felt so Italian.

"They blew up what they thought was a bomb in the middle of the airport while people were about 10 metres away, and then when it was destroyed the police just wandered off and left it to be cleaned up".

Another Twitter user apparently witnessed the incident, commenting: "I was right there when they told people to get out now! I'm outside, taking cover, staying low and all the Italians are looking into the door and hanging out".

People on Twitter thought the incident was hilarious, as one person commenting on Ned's post: "What have you done. I woke my wife up laughing at this underrated tweet."

Others had some excellent puns to contribute to the discussion.

One said: "Is that a weapon of mass dessication?