Manchester United’s final Premier League match of the season was abandoned on Sunday afternoon after a suspect package found at Old Trafford forced the evacuation of the stadium.
The club said in a statement: “Due to the discovery of a suspect package in the North-West Quadrant of the Old Trafford ground, the match against Bournemouth has been abandoned today on police advice”.
“People in the stadium were asked to remain in their seats while the forecourt was cleared of fans already evacuated from the stadium”.
Reports from Manchester said that supporters in the north and west stands were told to leave shortly before the scheduled 3pm kick-off. A short time later, fans in the remaining two stands were also evacuated.
The game was first delayed for 45 minutes, before the club announced it had been abandoned. The club described the incident as an “operation code red”, and later confirmed a suspect package had been discovered in the ground.
{{/usCountry}}The game was first delayed for 45 minutes, before the club announced it had been abandoned. The club described the incident as an “operation code red”, and later confirmed a suspect package had been discovered in the ground.
{{/usCountry}}Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester police, tweeted: “Greater Manchester Police working with Man Utd to make sure everyone is safely evacuated.”
Security personnel were supervising fans as they left the stadium, with the crowd of thousands told to move a safe distance from the complex.