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| English Soccer Match Canceled Over Suspicious Package | English Soccer Match Canceled Over Suspicious Package |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — The final match of the Premier League season for Manchester United and Bournemouth was abandoned Sunday afternoon after a suspicious package was found at the stadium, United announced on its website. | LONDON — The final match of the Premier League season for Manchester United and Bournemouth was abandoned Sunday afternoon after a suspicious package was found at the stadium, United announced on its website. |
| “Due to a suspect package being found in the North West Quadrant, today’s match has been abandoned on police advice,” the club said, adding that people “should avoid the area if possible.” | “Due to a suspect package being found in the North West Quadrant, today’s match has been abandoned on police advice,” the club said, adding that people “should avoid the area if possible.” |
| Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion inside the stadium, the Greater Manchester Police said on Twitter. It was unclear whether the suspicious package was a bomb. Local media reported, citing police sources, that a cellphone was found attached to a gas pipe. The police could not be reached for comment. | |
| Two sections of the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester — the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and the Stretford End — were evacuated about 20 minutes before the scheduled kickoff, the BBC reported. Sniffer dogs were seen searching the stands. | Two sections of the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester — the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and the Stretford End — were evacuated about 20 minutes before the scheduled kickoff, the BBC reported. Sniffer dogs were seen searching the stands. |
| A short time later, fans in the remaining two stands were also evacuated. | A short time later, fans in the remaining two stands were also evacuated. |
| “People in the stadium are advised to remain in their seats while the forecourt is cleared of fans evacuated from the stadium. Further announcements will be made as soon as possible,” the club said. | “People in the stadium are advised to remain in their seats while the forecourt is cleared of fans evacuated from the stadium. Further announcements will be made as soon as possible,” the club said. |
| Ian Hopkins, chief constable of the Greater Manchester police, wrote on Twitter: “Greater Manchester Police working with Man Utd to make sure everyone is safely evacuated.” | Ian Hopkins, chief constable of the Greater Manchester police, wrote on Twitter: “Greater Manchester Police working with Man Utd to make sure everyone is safely evacuated.” |
| The bomb scare came just days after Britain raised the terrorist threat level linked to Northern Ireland from “moderate” to “substantial,” warning that an attack was a strong possibility. | |
| Theresa May, Britain’s home secretary, said that decision reflected “the continuing threat from dissident republican activity.” | |
| In March, a group calling itself the New Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a van driven by a prison officer. The group, which opposes the Northern Ireland peace process, said it was “ready and determined to take the war to the age old enemy of our nation.” |