Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Army experts blew up a suspect device at Old Trafford on Sunday after tens of thousands of fans were evacuated ahead of Manchester United’s final English Premier League game of the season.
Amid a nerve-jangling scare with much of Europe on alert for militant attacks, police said the package “wasn’t viable” and had been an “incredibly lifelike explosive device”.
The “code red” alert was signalled by police just 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the game between United and Bournemouth.
A club employee found what was described as a mobile phone attached to gas pipes during a routine sweep of the northwest corner of Old Trafford, a source said.
Some players were already on the pitch warming up for the key game and had to be led away.
“We’re still in the dressing room, seems we’ll be the last to leave. There’s been nerves and tension,” United midfielder Ander Herrera told Spanish radio.
Fans were taken out of the world famous 75,600 capacity stadium as military bomb disposal experts rushed to the scene.
Police with dogs search the whole stadium while the package was blown up.
“Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion at Old Trafford on what is described as (an) incredibly lifelike explosive device,” Manchester police said on its Twitter account.
“Full assessment now concluded and found device wasn’t viable.”
The northwest corner, where the Stretford End meets the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, were both emptied in an operation which club officials said was carried out quickly and without any injuries.
Remaining spectators in the South and East Stands — including around 3,500 Bournemouth fans who had made a 500-mile (800 kilometer) round trip from the south coast for their club’s first ever league game at Old Trafford — were judged to be out of the danger area and remained in place.
Both sets of players also remained in the dressing room area.
Kick-off was initially delayed for 45 minutes but police quickly judged that the device presented sufficient threat for the game to be abandoned.
– Old Trafford gridlock –
Former United midfielder Micky Thomas, who entertains corporate guests at Old Trafford on matchdays, told the Daily Post: “At first I really thought it was a joke, as I couldn’t believe it was really happening.
“But it was all handled very well, I didn’t see any panic or chaos.”
It is the second time in less than a week that Manchester United have been involved in a security alert.
Their game at West Ham United on Tuesday was delayed after their team bus was attacked by home fans.
More than two hours after the game was abandoned, a ring of police and stewards still had the stadium cordoned off. Traffic in all directions around the stadium was gridlocked.
It was a dramatic end to a day which United supporters had hoped would see their team winning and finishing in fourth place.
But, with all other fixtures kicking off as planned, Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at Swansea City meant that United can finish no higher than fifth no matter the result of the game. That means they will miss the Champions League for a second straight season.
United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward was seen in conversation with Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore before the decision was taken to postpone the game. But the Premier League confirmed the fixture will be played.
That presented a logistical problem, with United playing Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup Final at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Officials told Bournemouth players and management that they could return home as there was no possibility of the game being replayed within 24 hours of Sunday’s abandoned fixture.
The Premier League said in a statement they would “seek to rearrange the fixture as soon as practically possible and will advise fans accordingly”.
Although Bournemouth are safe from the threat of relegation and cannot qualify for Europe, Sunday’s match still had significance for the Cherries.
Eddie Howe’s men, who started the weekend in 16th place, were looking to completed a league double over United, with the amount of prize money they receive dependent on where they finish in the table.
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