Better safe than sorry.
We doubt anyone will complain about the reaction of Manchester United, the Premier League or the Greater Manchester Police, after they divulged further details of the ‘suspicious package’ that led to Sunday’s game with Bournemouth being abandoned due to serious safety concerns.
Such was the concern over the discovery, that a bomb disposal unit was called in to destroy the package in a controlled explosion within the stadium. But after extremely careful investigation, it emerged that the suspected bomb was an ‘incredibly lifelike explosive device’ that ‘wasn’t viable’.
GM Police’s full Twitter update reads as follows:
‘Bomb disposal experts carried out controlled explosion at Old Trafford on what is described as incredibly lifelike explosive device. Full assessment now concluded and found device wasn’t viable. A full search of the stadium is ongoing. Full update to follow.’
Bomb disposal experts carried out controlled explosion at Old Trafford on what is described as incredibly lifelike explosive device…
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 15, 2016
Full assessment now concluded and found device wasn’t viable. A full search of the stadium is ongoing. Full update to follow.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 15, 2016
Manchester United were quick to echo the update via their official club account:
Update: Experts carried out a controlled explosion at OT on what has been described as an 'incredibly lifelike explosive device'. #mufc
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 15, 2016
The experts' assessment has now concluded and found that the device wasn’t viable. A full search of the stadium is ongoing. #mufc
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 15, 2016
The reference to an ongoing ‘full search of the stadium’ caused some rumours of other possible devices within the ground, but they were quickly dismissed:
Told rumours of other devices at Old Trafford are just that, at this stage.
— Mike Keegan (@MikeKeegan_DM) May 15, 2016
In the end, Piers Morgan was one of those who was uncharacteristically bang on the money with his reaction to the dramatic events of the day:
CONFIRMED: Old Trafford device was a fake.
Excellent security op by all involved. Hope the culprit who ruined the day is swiftly caught.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 15, 2016
Imagine being the kind of bellend who takes time to fabricate this kind of device for a laugh. Hope he gets set on fire.
— Dan (@mufc_dan87) May 15, 2016
