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Fake cigarette caused M6 police Megabus coach swoop Fake cigarette caused M6 police Megabus coach swoop
(31 minutes later)
A fake cigarette prompted armed police to swoop on a coach on the M6 Toll road and close the motorway for four hours.A fake cigarette prompted armed police to swoop on a coach on the M6 Toll road and close the motorway for four hours.
Forty eight passengers on the Megabus Preston to London service were led off the coach and forced to sit apart in a cordon on the opposite carriageway.Forty eight passengers on the Megabus Preston to London service were led off the coach and forced to sit apart in a cordon on the opposite carriageway.
The road was closed between junctions T3 and T4 near Lichfield before police said they were no longer treating the incident as suspicious.The road was closed between junctions T3 and T4 near Lichfield before police said they were no longer treating the incident as suspicious.
Police said they received a "genuine report" of vapour escaping from a bag.Police said they received a "genuine report" of vapour escaping from a bag.
'Genuine security alert''Genuine security alert'
Jenny Lister, who was on the coach, said when she got off "there were armed police aiming at us".
She said: "We... were told to sit in rows and not talk to each other. There was a small area of the motorway where we were told to sit and stay. It was probably 45 minutes to an hour that we were sat there.
"The worst part was being stuck on the bus not knowing what was going on."
A force spokeswoman said, given the credibility of the information received, officers "responded swiftly and proportionately".A force spokeswoman said, given the credibility of the information received, officers "responded swiftly and proportionately".
The incident shut the M6 Toll road in both directions for more than four hours. The M6 Toll road was shut from about 08:20 BST and fully reopened by 14:00 BST northbound and by 15:00 BST southbound.
Staffordshire Police received a report at about 08:20 BST from someone who saw vapour as the coach was near the M6 Toll plaza at Weeford, near Lichfield. Staffordshire Police received a report from someone who saw vapour as the coach was near the M6 Toll plaza at Weeford, near Lichfield.
The force said on investigation they found the passenger had an electronic cigarette which produces a visible vapour.The force said on investigation they found the passenger had an electronic cigarette which produces a visible vapour.
The passengers, including at least one young boy, were taken to a cordoned-off area of the motorway and surrounded by police.The passengers, including at least one young boy, were taken to a cordoned-off area of the motorway and surrounded by police.
'Reports unfounded'
Officers searched the coach passengers one by one.Officers searched the coach passengers one by one.
'Reports unfounded'
Several other cordoned-off areas could also be seen, along with what appeared to be decontamination units.Several other cordoned-off areas could also be seen, along with what appeared to be decontamination units.
Military personnel, police dog handlers, firefighters and other specialist units were also at the scene.Military personnel, police dog handlers, firefighters and other specialist units were also at the scene.
No-one was injured, there was no danger to passengers and no-one was being treated as a suspect after armed officers evacuated the Megabus coach, police said.No-one was injured, there was no danger to passengers and no-one was being treated as a suspect after armed officers evacuated the Megabus coach, police said.
The spokeswoman said: "We can now confirm that, whilst this was a genuine security alert, the significant concerns reported to us were unfounded.The spokeswoman said: "We can now confirm that, whilst this was a genuine security alert, the significant concerns reported to us were unfounded.
"It's important to state that no criminal offence has been committed and no passenger or any other member of the public is being treated as a suspect."It's important to state that no criminal offence has been committed and no passenger or any other member of the public is being treated as a suspect.
"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience and hope that the public understand that we have our duty to safeguard public safety.""We would like to apologise for any inconvenience and hope that the public understand that we have our duty to safeguard public safety."
'Felt uneasy''Felt uneasy'
Jenny Lister, who was on the coach, said when people got off "there were armed police aiming at us".
She said: "We... were told to sit in rows and not talk to each other. There was a small area of the motorway where we were told to sit and stay. It was probably 45 minutes to an hour that we were sat there.
"The worst part was being stuck on the bus not knowing what was going on."
Witness Nick Jones, who was stopped on the motorway for more than an hour-and-a-half, said police warned him to stay in his car, keep his windows closed and not to use air conditioning.Witness Nick Jones, who was stopped on the motorway for more than an hour-and-a-half, said police warned him to stay in his car, keep his windows closed and not to use air conditioning.
He said: "I was beginning to feel a little uneasy."He said: "I was beginning to feel a little uneasy."
A spokeswoman for Megabus, which is operated by Stagecoach, said all 48 passengers booked on the service were safe and well.A spokeswoman for Megabus, which is operated by Stagecoach, said all 48 passengers booked on the service were safe and well.
She said: "We are assisting police with their inquiries into an allegation made against a passenger who was travelling on the 05.10 Preston to London service.She said: "We are assisting police with their inquiries into an allegation made against a passenger who was travelling on the 05.10 Preston to London service.
"There were 48 people booked to travel on board the service, which was due to arrive at Victoria Coach Station in London at 10.55am."There were 48 people booked to travel on board the service, which was due to arrive at Victoria Coach Station in London at 10.55am.
"Police have confirmed that all passengers are safe and well and they have been transferred to a substitute vehicle.""Police have confirmed that all passengers are safe and well and they have been transferred to a substitute vehicle."
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