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Manchester United: controlled explosion at Old Trafford after 'lifelike' device found Old Trafford bomb hoax sees Manchester United's final game axed
(35 minutes later)
A fake explosive device at Old Trafford has led to Manchester United’s final Premier League game of the season being abandoned. An elaborate hoax involving a fake but “incredibly lifelike” bomb caused the cancellation of Manchester United’s final Premier League game of the season at Old Trafford.
Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion of a suspicious item described as an “incredibly lifelike explosive device” by Greater Manchester police. The side’s match against Bournemouth was abandoned after the device was discovered in the stadium’s north-west quadrant. The stadium was evacuated 20 minutes before the match against Bournemouth was due to kick off at the Theatre of Dreams. Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the package, which was discovered in the north-west quadrant of the stadium.
Greater Manchester police announced in a statement on Twitter: “Bomb disposal experts carried out controlled explosion at Old Trafford on what is described as incredibly lifelike explosive device … Full assessment now concluded and found device wasn’t viable. A full search of the stadium is ongoing. Full update to follow.” Detailed examination found the package, thought to consist of a mobile phone attached to a pipe, was not “viable”, Greater Manchester police (GMP) said.In a statement, the force said: “Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion at Old Trafford on what is described as an incredibly lifelike explosive device. Full assessment has now concluded and found that the device wasn’t viable.”
Full assessment now concluded and found device wasn’t viable. A full search of the stadium is ongoing. Full update to follow.Full assessment now concluded and found device wasn’t viable. A full search of the stadium is ongoing. Full update to follow.
Bomb disposal experts carried out controlled explosion at Old Trafford on what is described as incredibly lifelike explosive device...Bomb disposal experts carried out controlled explosion at Old Trafford on what is described as incredibly lifelike explosive device...
The suspect package was found at the stadium before kickoff, prompting the evacuation of the ground. Supporters in the north and west stands were told to leave before the scheduled 3pm kickoff against Bournemouth and a short time later, fans in the remaining two stands were also evacuated. A search of the stadium continued into the evening to check no other devices had been planted, as detectives sought to understand who had planted the fake bomb – and why.A terrorist attack has long been the nightmare scenario for the world’s biggest football club. In January, United reportedly beefed up security in the wake of the terror attack at the Stade de France in Paris.
A source at the stadium said that the device included a mobile phone, which was attached to a pipe. It was believed to have been found in a set of toilets in the ground’s north-west corner.
Greater Manchester police confirmed a controlled explosion was conducted within the stadium and stewards were seen filing back into the ground shortly before 5pm.
Stewards here definitely saying device, including phone, was strapped to gas pipe. Not confirmed. MUFC say their own security found it.
Old Trafford evacuation: a police source has just confirmed that a phone has been found attached to a pipe.
Text.Package was a phone attached to pipe with wires hanging from it”. Found by customer in toilet.From guy who found it.
Related: Manchester United v Bournemouth abandoned after Old Trafford evacuation – liveRelated: Manchester United v Bournemouth abandoned after Old Trafford evacuation – live
The game against Bournemouth, which was to be their final outing of the 2015-16 season, was originally delayed for 45 minutes before the club announced it had been abandoned. On Sunday, it was not until shortly before the 3pm kickoff that it became clear all was not well at Old Trafford, which has a capacity of over 75,000.Many supporters were not yet in the ground when fans from the Stretford end and Sir Alex Ferguson stand were evacuated as security personnel announced “operation code red”.Apologising to fans, Greater Manchester police’s assistant chief constable, John O’Hare, said: “We don’t make these decisions lightly and we have done this today to ensure the safety of all those attending. I am thankful for everyone’s support and assistance.”
In initial announcements heard in the stand, the club described the incident as an “operation code red”, later confirming a suspect package had been discovered. A source said UK anti-terror officials were monitoring the situation. It is understood that both sets of players were kept in the dressing rooms for about 40 minutes before being taken to a suite where they were looked after by security and hospitality staff.The alert came just days after Theresa May announced MI5 had raised the threat level to Great Britain from Northern Ireland-related terrorism from moderate to substantial, the third most serious category out of five.The home secretary said on Wednesday the move “reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity”. Next month marks 20 years since the IRA destroyed Manchester’s shopping district in a bomb attack.
The alert message was sparked 20 minutes before the game was due to start. The decision to evacuate the entire stadium was made after an emergency meeting in the police control room involving the commanding officers and various club executives. The threat level to the UK from international terrorism remains at severe – meaning an attack is “highly likely”. This has not been changed.
The police told United it would take several hours to check that the package was not explosive. Bomb disposal officers arrived on the scene shortly after the evacuation, and completed a controlled explosion of the device shortly before 5pm. Due to the discovery of a suspect package in the NW Quadrant of the ground, the match has been abandoned today on police advice. #mufc
John O’Hare, the assistant chief constable, said: “We are doing everything we can to investigate this item as quickly as possible, however, our priority is obviously to ensure the safety of everyone in the stadium and surrounding area. As a result, today’s game has been abandoned and a controlled evacuation of the stadium has now taken place. Premier League officials said the game would be rearranged “as soon as practically possible”, adding in a statement: “The decision to abandon the Manchester United versus AFC Bournemouth match was taken after the police advised of the necessity to deal with a suspect package. When it comes to matters of security it is obviously right that Manchester United and the Premier League place the safety of supporters and employees foremost.
“We are awaiting the imminent arrival of military colleagues to come and support us and establish what exactly we are dealing with.
“We don’t make these decisions lightly and we have done this today to ensure the safety of all those attending. I am thankful for everyone’s support and assistance and we will continue to provide updates on this matter as soon as they become available.”
Related: Manchester City draw at Swansea City to all-but ensure top-four finishRelated: Manchester City draw at Swansea City to all-but ensure top-four finish
The alert at Old Trafford came just days after the home secretary, Theresa May, announced that the domestic intelligence service MI5 had raised the threat level to Great Britain from Northern Ireland-related terrorism from moderate to substantial – the third most serious category out of five.
May said on Wednesday the move “reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity”. The threat level to the UK from international terrorism remains at severe - meaning an attack is “highly likely”. This has not been changed.
A Premier League statement said: “The decision to abandon the Manchester United versus AFC Bournemouth match was taken after the police advised of the necessity to deal with a suspect package.
“When it comes to matters of security it is obviously right that Manchester United and the Premier League place the safety of supporters and employees foremost.
“The Premier League will seek to rearrange the fixture as soon as practically possible and will advise fans accordingly. It is always the last resort to abandon one of our fixtures and while we apologise for the inconvenience caused to fans we are sure, in the circumstances, they will appreciate the need to do so.”“The Premier League will seek to rearrange the fixture as soon as practically possible and will advise fans accordingly. It is always the last resort to abandon one of our fixtures and while we apologise for the inconvenience caused to fans we are sure, in the circumstances, they will appreciate the need to do so.”
Security personnel were supervising fans as they left the stadium, with the crowd of thousands told to move a safe distance from the complex. There was inevitable disappointment from fans who had come from outside Manchester for the match. Sam Stride, a United supporter from Bristol, said: “Unbelievable. This is the first time I have been to Old Trafford to see a game. My mate and I have known each other for 63 years and we travelled up from Bristol together. We sat in the Stretford end for about five seconds before they asked us to leave. It’s very disappointing.”
Due to the discovery of a suspect package in the NW Quadrant of the ground, the match has been abandoned today on police advice. #mufc But in the beer gardens outside the ground fans were largely accepting of the decision to cancel the match, the fine weather and alcohol taking the edge off any frustration. Pub landlord Steve Kerr was trying to look on the bright side. He said: “The sun’s shining, everybody is in good spirits. But we’ve not really been happy all season – this puts the final nail in the coffin.”
Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, immediately went into a meeting with the club secretary, John Alexander, and the Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, to discuss the complicated issue of when the game can be rearranged.
United’s involvement in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace next Saturday clouds the issue and, with policing and stewarding issues also to be resolved, there is no easy solution for playing the fixture again. The two sets of players were called off the pitch during their warm-up at 2.43pm.
Many fans never managed to get into the stadium at all, and diverted instead to the beer garden at the Tollgate pub by Trafford Bar tram stop.
Pub landlord Steve Kerr was trying to look on the bright side. “The sun’s shining, everybody is in good spirits. But we’ve not really been happy all season but this puts the final nail in the coffin,” he said.
“It sums up our season, that. Just fizzling out – something and nothing,” said Matt Crew, who had come up for the match from Leek in Staffordshire.“It sums up our season, that. Just fizzling out – something and nothing,” said Matt Crew, who had come up for the match from Leek in Staffordshire.
His father, Dave, said there was no trouble. “People were just singing and chanting as usual. You can’t blame the club really. They’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. If anything goes wrong they’ll be the ones criticised. Security is the most important thing these days.” His father, Dave, said there was no trouble during the mass evacuation. “People were just singing and chanting as usual. You can’t blame the club really. They’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. If anything goes wrong they’ll be the ones criticised. Security is the most important thing these days.”
Richard Stockwell, a dentist, had come from Oxford for the match but was sanguine about not seeing any football. “It’s just one of those things. I’d already decided I wasn’t going back in once we had been told to leave the Sir Alex Ferguson stand, before I heard the match was cancelled. Outside the Tollgate pub by Trafford Bar, others discussed who might have left the suspect package. A consensus emerged as word reached the picnic tables that the club’s biggest rivals were one nil up against Swansea after five minutes of play, going on to be held to a 1:1 draw: “It was definitely a City fan.”
“The security worked really well. I’ve been in similar situations years ago when we’ve had to get out of places quickly and it was a mess. This was very well organised.”
Others outside the pub were speculating over who might have left the suspect package. A consensus emerged as word reached the picnic tables that the club’s biggest rivals were one nil up against Swansea after five minutes of play: “It was definitely a City fan.”