The Red devils were hit with another terror yesterday during their last English Premier League against Bournemouth after what was speculated to be a bomb caused commotion at the old Trafford stands forcing the security to evacuate fans and players.
This came barely a week after United bus was struck with missiles as they traveled to play against West Ham united forcing the kick-off to be delayed for 45 minutes.
The authorities were initially praised for ushering 50,000 spectators out of Manchester’s Old Trafford stadium after a suspicious object was found in the stands. Sniffer dogs were dispatched, and bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled detonation of what was then described as an “incredibly lifelike explosive device.”
But to officials’ embarrassment, the suspicious item — a cellphone connected to a gas pipe — turned out to be a training device that the police later announced had “accidentally been left by a private company following a training exercise involving 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,” said John O’Hare, an assistant chief constable with the Greater Manchester Police.
The bomb scare caused particular fear because Britain had just days before raised the terrorist threat level linked to Northern Ireland to “substantial” from “moderate,” warning that an attack was a strong possibility.
Theresa May, Britain’s home secretary, said that decision reflected “the continuing threat from dissident republican activity.”
In March, a group calling itself the New Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a van driven by a prison officer. The group, which opposes the Northern Ireland peace process, said it was “ready and determined to take the war to the age-old enemy of our nation.”
There has been a heightened awareness of security surrounding sporting events in Europe, with the European soccer championships set to begin in France next month.The Premier League rescheduled the match between Manchester United and Bournemouth for Tuesday.