GREATER MANCHESTER, England, May 15 (UPI) — British bomb disposal experts exploded a suspicious package at Old Trafford stadium Sunday afternoon, an hour after Manchester United ‘s last Premier League soccer match of the season was postponed.
Before kickoff, a package was found, prompting an evacuation of the 75,000-seat stadium.
A Guardian source at the stadium said that the device included a mobile phone attached to a pipe. It reportedly was found in a set of toilets in the ground’s north-west corner.
Geater Manchester police said it was an “incredibly lifelike explosive device”
The game against Bournemouth — the final one of the 2015-2016 season — was first delayed for 45 minutes before the club announced it had been canceled.
Two hours before the game was called off, the club described the incident as an “operation code red” and the players, who were warming up, left the field.
Fans were then advised that because of “the discovery of a suspect package in the north-west quadrant of the ground, the match has been abandoned for today on police advice.”
The Premier League announced it hopes to reschedule the match.
“The game will definitely need to be played but there are logistical issues that need to be resolved,” a statement read.
