Updated 22.20
GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE tonight say the device that prompted a stadium evacuation and match abandonment at Old Trafford today was in fact the target of a training exercise which was mistakenly left behind.
The discovery of the ‘suspect package’ in the north-west corner of the stadium brought about an evacuation order shortly before kick-off at this afternoon’s Premier League meeting between Manchester United and Bournemouth. The match was later called off as the stadium issued a ‘code red’ alert and the bomb disposal unit was called in.
Around 4.30pm, a controlled explosion was carried out inside the stadium. Greater Manchester Police reported that the target device was ‘incredibly lifelike’, but ultimately was not a viable threat.
However, tonight Police issued a further clarification, saying:
Following today’s controlled explosion, we have since found out that the item was a training device which had accidentally been left by a private company following a training exercise involving explosive search dogs.
“Whilst this item did not turn out to be a viable explosive, on appearance this device was as real as could be, and the decision to evacuate the stadium was the right thing to do, until we could be sure that people were not at risk.”
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Better to be safe than sorry, especially when thousands of lives are at stake.
Deffo. Nobody wants another Hillsborough. But how embarrassing, I hope it wasn’t some lad on work experience who went for a fag and forgot about it!
Shit…
After all that, this story should be moved to the dailyedge…..
You’re joking. The Home Office is probably drawing up fresh contracts as we speak. It’s not as the litany of cock-ups and corrupt shenanigans at Capita, G4S or Serco has dented the faith of HM government in outsourcing serious matters to questionable private outfits, is it?
Most exciting thing to happen in old Trafford all year!
I think you nicked my comment from the original report!
To be honest, I nicked it from a mate earlier on a WhatsApp group. But it’s such an obvious one!
This unfortunately was a dry run by those scu m to see could they get it in and also to gauge the reaction of the police and army and how they would defuse it . Now they will plot this differently and still get it into the stadium . Everyone be watchful please and if you see anything suspicious then inform security immediately
Donal
It’s good of you to share your insider knowledge with us all
Sarcasm is unnecessary
Well, the security services have been warning of an imminent dissident republican attack on mainland Britain for the last week!
Britain will suffice. No need for the “mainland” bit…
Galway
I completely agree. Sarcasm is totally unnecessary when we have completely unsupported statements of fact.
Britain is the landmass containing Scotland, England and Wales, it doesn’t have a mainland. Standard geography stuff to be honest.
Shane
Britain includes a number of islands belonging to England, Scotland and Wales therefore it does actually have a mainland. Standard geography stuff really!
Well the supposed threat was specific to mainland Britain. Mi5 didn’t feel that Britain would suffice. These distinctions are kind of important when it comes to these kinds of things.
Love that Nick
Why do a dry run though, if they’re going to do it they’d actually just bomb the place today.
Scarlet for the very paranoid Donal; ‘It was a dry run,EEK!’
@Nick, Britain is the main land of the united kingdom. Them islands you speak of belong to the UK as a whole which consists of 3 1/2 countries.
Donal, you should go away, you know, and take your shite talk with you.
You had one job!
Pat Mustard was at it again
Sh!t happens.
That was van gaal’s suitcase.
Somebody is getting sacked for that!!
Presumably there is loads of CCTV everywhere in football grounds so should be easy to find out who planted the device.
Suspicious object in old Trafford it was a trophy
Fu€kin scary shit.
Just hearing on BBC radio now that what was found was actually a training device that was left behind!!!
I’d get new dogs so, not much good if they didn’t find the device! Also did they now know how many they put out in the stadium, surely they notice they were short one?
Gerard, dogs sniff out explosives. This was a training device, it did not contain any explosives. That will explain why a dog didn’t sniff it out, if indeed explosives dogs were/are routinely used before spectators entered the stadium.
The dogs were most likely brought in after the find to ensure no other devices were in the stadium.
The device was planted to be a test for sniffer dogs Ciaran.
Cieran, Why so would they bring in dogs if they couldn’t find the devices! It was a training exercise for the dogs who find these devices/explosives!
Panic over lads. UK media reporting it was a “test” device used and let behind by a private security firm.
I was there today. Scary stuff I can tell ya.
I blame Uwe Rosler’s granddad.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Looks like it was a total cock up by someone. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3591836/Manchester-United-bomb-scare-caused-security-blunder-dummy-device-left-Old-Trafford-toilet-MISTAKE.html
Fergie time in full flow now
Is it a coincidence that the British government raised its terrorism level this week from info they got about Irish terrorists.
I think so yes. This is completely away from any other IRA (catch all statement) that we ever have seen. Also now that it was not a viable device it could be anything.
I couldn’t be as sure as you are that it’s not ira related,unfortunately.
*IF* it was terrorist related then it seems certainly n it was the IRA-lite that did it and not the Islamists. Our Muslim friends don’t do dry runs as they have enough gob$hites willing to give their lives to destroy yours.
Stephen, not really. Remember the Aintree grand national.
Not a hope is the training device story true first off it wouldn’t have been left behind second if it was they would have copped on a lot quicker. This is a story put out so as to not alarm the public
Understandably crap that the match was abandoned, but great opportunity for emergency services to practice their skills in mass evacuation drills. Great learning potential for all involved to see where they can improve should it happen for real in the future.
‘Twas a gambler who bet too much on the game and needed a way to cancel the bet
Basically, the device was like the home side.
Am I missing something here, was it an explosive device or not? They carried out a controlled explosion – if it explodes that it’s an explosive device right? Incredibly life-like suggests it was not real would I be right in saying that? But they exploded it? I wouldnt have gone out last night had I know I was going to have to try to figure this out today.
Controlled explosions generally involve blowing up the package with other explosives shaped to control the blast.
There may not have been any explosives in the original ‘bomb’.
Did that security firm not notice something looking like a bomb was missing??? Wtf??
It was covered with old United grey strip
I don’t believe it, I think they’re just saying that now
It’s very hard to believe. That security expert professionals would make such a mistake. The full honest story will only be known to a select few
Thats going to cost the security companie millions of pounds in costs . Lost revenues at old trafford / police / fire / bomb squad / sky tv etc etc
It would appear that United can’t do training exercises properly now.