16/05/2016

You dummies! Red faces at Manchester United as it emerges bomb scare was caused by dummy device



Sniffer dogs search the West Stand after stands were evacuated before the football match between Manchester United and BournemouthYou dummies! Red faces at Manchester United as it emerges bomb scare was caused by dummy device left in toilet BY MISTAKE after terror training exercise

  • Stands at Old Trafford dramatically evacuated after 'code red' alert because of 'incredibly lifelike explosive device'
  • Mobile phone attached to wiring said to have been discovered in toilets during Manchester United's final-day clash
  • Match was postponed for 45 minutes but staff later abandoned game altogether, sending away thousands of fans
  • Police and sniffer dogs deployed to ground, which has capacity for 76,000, and a controlled explosion carried out
  • Sportsmail understands suspect package was a dummy device left in stadium by mistake after a training exercise
  • Greater Manchester's Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner called incident 'outrageous' and demanded inquiry
The security alert that caused the abandonment of Manchester United's Premier League clash with Bournemouth - and triggered a controlled explosion - was caused by a dummy device apparently left in the stadium by mistake on a training exercise, Sportsmail has learned.
Around 76,000 fans were ordered to leave Old Trafford minutes before the scheduled kick-off of the club's final match of the season yesterday afternoon when an 'incredibly lifelike explosive device' was found.
But last night police confirmed that the 'bomb' was left at the stadium in error in the days leading up to the game on the final weekend of the Premier League season.
A security training exercise involving sniffer dogs was conducted at the ground by a private company and the device, designed to look authentic, was not removed afterwards.
Greater Manchester's Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has now called the incident 'outrageous' and demanded a full inquiry. 
It came as it was reported that two weeks ago batteries were found taped to the bottom of United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward’s chair in the ground in an odd security breach. 
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A bomb disposal vehicle arrives at Old Trafford during the evacuation of the 76,000-seater stadium ahead of the Premier League final-day clash between Manchester United and Bournemouth yesterday afternoon following the discovery of an 'incredibly lifelike explosive device'
A bomb disposal vehicle arrives at Old Trafford during the evacuation of the 76,000-seater stadium ahead of the Premier League final-day clash between Manchester United and Bournemouth yesterday afternoon following the discovery of an 'incredibly lifelike explosive device'
A special appliance from the bomb disposal unit is pictured underneath the grandstand at Old Trafford as it prepares to check the device
A special appliance from the bomb disposal unit is pictured underneath the grandstand at Old Trafford as it prepares to check the device
Bomb experts were sent to the Manchester stadium to investigate what is thought to be a suspect mobile phone device and wiring which was found in a toilet cubicle in the ground. It was later revealed the suspect package was a dummy device accidentally left in the stadium
Bomb experts were sent to the Manchester stadium to investigate what is thought to be a suspect mobile phone device and wiring which was found in a toilet cubicle in the ground. It was later revealed the suspect package was a dummy device accidentally left in the stadium
The Sky Sports team which was working inside the ground were also told to evacuate and had to broadcast some of the programme outside. The pundits are seen above reporting from outside Old Trafford while the bomb disposal van arrives at the 76,000-seater stadium
The Sky Sports team which was working inside the ground were also told to evacuate and had to broadcast some of the programme outside. The pundits are seen above reporting from outside Old Trafford while the bomb disposal van arrives at the 76,000-seater stadium
A team of sniffer dogs were sent round the stadium hunting for clues that would help detectives in their investigation at the ground
A team of sniffer dogs were sent round the stadium hunting for clues that would help detectives in their investigation at the ground
Sniffer dogs search the West Stand after stands were evacuated before the football match between Manchester United and Bournemouth
Sniffer dogs search the West Stand after stands were evacuated before the football match between Manchester United and Bournemouth
A young boy is consoled after fans are told the game will be postponed until another day following news of a 'code red' security breach
A young boy is consoled after fans are told the game will be postponed until another day following news of a 'code red' security breach
It was initially thought to be part of a bugging plot but this theory - and a possible terror threat - were discounted after an internal investigation. The batteries were not attached to any other components, according to reports in The Sun. 
In yesterday's incident, the mobile phone - reportedly strapped to pipes in a toilet block - was found by a staff member, leading to the code red at 2.40pm.
A police officer trained in spotting devices inspected the suspect package, found that it looked to be viable and the bomb disposal unit was called for. 
With the terror threat level at 'severe', and in the light of last year's Islamic State attack at a football stadium in Paris, Greater Manchester Police recommended a full evacuation. 
The Army bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion around 5pm and police dogs scoured the stands amid fears of a second device.
The chaos was initially blamed on an elaborate hoax, and it is understood police were also investigating whether the fake bomb was a 'sinister test' by terrorists.
A security official, who saw the device in the stadium's North West Quadrant, said: 'It certainly did not look like something you would want to mess with.'
There was alarm in Whitehall throughout the afternoon as security officials tried to establish if the device was genuine.
But last night, Manchester United confirmed in a statement that the 'incredibly realistic-looking explosive device' was in fact a piece of training apparatus.

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