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Crowds turned away from Birmingham New Street station as services halted Birmingham New Street Station suspicious package turns out to be cannabis grinder
(32 minutes later)
New Street station was evacuated with all rail networks suspended New Street station was evacuated with all rail services suspended
Passengers have been evacuated from Birmingham New Street Station after a security alert. Hundreds of people were evacuated from Birmingham New Street Station after a security alert that turned out to be caused by a cannabis grinder.
All services in and out of the station have been suspended with disruption expected to last until the end of the day, National Rail said. All services in and out of the station were suspended after reports of a suspicious package at about 15:00 GMT.
British Transport Police said they received a report at around 15:00 GMT of a suspicious item on a platform. Experts discovered the item, found on a platform, was actually a cannabis grinder in the shape of a grenade.
The station was evacuated as a precaution and passengers told to move away from the station. Commuters were allowed back in at about 16:40, but disruption is expected to last until the end of the day.
One took to social media and said: "Birmingham new street evacuation, been told to get as far away from building as possible. Undercover police vehicles and ambulances at the scene". "The item has now been assessed by specialist officers and is no longer being treated as suspicious," British Transport Police said.
Birmingham New Street is the busiest station outside of London and the security alert saw commuters turned away, while others were left stuck on trains outside the station.
Currently something ongoing at Birmingham New St Station...Station cleared, nearby roads cleared, police moving pedestrians back up onto New St.Scene as 15:30@BBCNews @SkyNewsBreak pic.twitter.com/QwGM61ikt0
British Transport Police dealt with a suspicious item on a platform at New Street Station
Posting on social media, one passenger wrote: "Birmingham New Street evacuation, been told to get as far away from building as possible. Undercover police vehicles and ambulances at the scene".
Another passenger said police officers at the main entrance had been shouting at people to move away immediately and to "get back onto New Street now".Another passenger said police officers at the main entrance had been shouting at people to move away immediately and to "get back onto New Street now".
Several emergency vehicles went by, heading towards the station, as passengers left the city centre, they said.
Others said they were stuck on trains outside it.Others said they were stuck on trains outside it.
Currently something ongoing at Birmingham New St Station...Station cleared, nearby roads cleared, police moving pedestrians back up onto New St.Scene as 15:30@BBCNews @SkyNewsBreak pic.twitter.com/QwGM61ikt0 Birmingham New Street is the busiest station outside of London
British Transport Police are dealing with a suspicious item on a platform at New Street Station West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service were also there working alongside British Transport Police.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We are aware of reports of a suspicious item at New Street Station in Birmingham. National Rail said while lines had reopened, trains may still be "cancelled, revised or delayed by up to 100 minutes as services return to normal".
"Ambulance crews are working with colleagues from West Midlands Police, British Transport Police and West Midlands Fire Service. It added rail replacement bus services had been put on for:
"The station has been evacuated as a precaution while the item is assessed."
National Rail added that a rail replacement bus service has been put on for:
Coventry and Northampton.Coventry and Northampton.
Redditch and Longbridge via Bromsgrove.Redditch and Longbridge via Bromsgrove.
Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley.Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley.
Walsall and Rugeley Trent ValleyWalsall and Rugeley Trent Valley
Wolverhampton and ShrewsburyWolverhampton and Shrewsbury
Avanti West Coast customers may use their tickets on West Midlands Metro between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton. Avanti West Coast customers may also use their tickets on West Midlands Metro between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton.
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.ukFollow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk