Couldn't see a thread about this, but what an extraordinary shambles it was:
The explanation about the suspect device at Old Trafford being “accidentally” left by a private company training search dogs raises more questions than answers. Admiration for the smoothness of Manchester United’s Code Red evacuation operation is offset by the fact that the club have been embarrassed by events. United were not as in control as they liked to make out. As they launch their investigation today, they must establish why the device was not discovered in the usual security sweep of the stadium long before fans were allowed through the turnstiles. The exact nature of their relationship with the training company will come under scrutiny.
Did no one at the club not recall that a group had been in with dogs searching for a dummy device in midweek? Somebody surely noticed dogs running all over Old Trafford? And why didn’t a member of this private company not contact the club alerting them to the possibility of the device having been left behind?
Social media and more traditional news outlets such as radio, television and print websites were awash with stories and pictures about the abandonment. However sheepish they would have been at forgetting one of their dummy devices, this company must have known that staying silent, and seeing 76,000 fans turned away, would leave them open to considerable legal redress.
Manchester airport last night was full of disappointed supporters heading south. Some children may have been unnerved by the experience of being forced to leave a stadium because of a suspect device.
As investigations continue today, United and Greater Manchester Police have to examine similarities with an incident at Molineux in 2014. Both parties have to face questions as to whether the whole event was one big training exercise. After the Trafford Centre hosting a training event recently, was it Old Trafford’s turn? The idea of sacrificing an important Barclays Premier League match simply to prove an emergency operation works seems far-fetched. But United and Greater Manchester Police have to address such questions.
At least they answered the question that they can clear a stadium efficiently. Breaking off from patting beach-balls into the air, Bournemouth supporters wondered what was going on as the areas furthest from them, the Stretford End and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, gradually emptied. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” they chanted after an announcement over the Old Trafford speakers, instructing them to “remain in their seats”.
But they did know what they were doing. Code Red was signalled to Manchester United stewards and staff at 2.40pm. Old Trafford was quietly and systematically evacuated row by row, block by block, stand by stand. Sniffer dogs wove in and out of the aisles. The bomb disposal unit was on its way. The Sky team of Ed Chamberlin, Graeme Souness, Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher moved outside, and continued broadcasting from the car park as a bomb disposal lorry drove past them.
The Sky Sports team continued their broadcast from the Old Trafford car parks
The evacuation was calm, orderly, and was staggered to remove first those in closest proximity to the threat in the northwest quadrant and then avoid a heavy build-up of fans suddenly funnelling out of the ground.
The bomb-disposal experts then conducted a controlled explosion of what ultimately turned out to be a dummy device. Even though the origins of yesterday’s events were rooted in farce and unacceptable behaviour by the training company, what yesterday showed was that the game is now on high alert. Sensitivity over a possible terrorist attack is inevitably heightened since the Paris atrocities of November 13 last year.
Similarly, concern has intensified after last Thursday’s warning from Theresa May, the home secretary, of an increased risk from the IRA. Sport has never been targeted by the dissident Republicans. It is the threat of Islamic State, and the attacks on Paris that left 130 people dead, that have focused minds here. Isis’s willingness to target sporting events were seen when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside Stade de France after being prevented from entering the arena where France were playing. The FA liaised with its French counterparts before Didier Deschamps’s side visited Wembley shortly afterwards.
As the Premier League emphasised last night, the safety of supporters and all inside the ground was paramount. The mantra of “better safe than sorry” guides sporting authorities when it comes to even the hint of a threat. Keeping a closer eye on who you rent your ground out to may be a good idea, too.
The authorities are leaving nothing to chance, and security checks have proliferated at Old Trafford and other grounds this season. There was an outer cordon 50 metres from Old Trafford yesterday, where stewards looked through bags and then another bag search before entering the ground, followed by a brief frisking. Queues at turnstiles have lengthened this season because of the new measures. Fans, though, largely take such frustrations in their stride.
An additional check awaited those driving into the official car parks at the stadium. Some cars were stopped and a mirror placed underneath, checking for devices. Fans accept it. Paris changed everything.
Code Red was conducted quietly. “We didn’t want panic,” a club official said. After the discovery of the device, stewards began walking through the aisles in the northwest quadrant at 2.30 telling supporters to leave. The message spread through word of mouth, not through the speakers. United’s strategy was clearly to move quickly those fans in the immediate vicinity of the apparent package and then address the surrounding areas without any announcement that would spark a rush.
The evacuation quickened from 2.40, initially in the northwest quadrant and then spreading out to include all the Stretford End and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. Supporters in the other two stands watched with increasing surprise as one half of the ground emptied. “We’ve got more fans than you,’’ chanted the Bournemouth fans.
That drew applause from the United support present. “Your ground’s too big for you,” came the next chant from the visiting fans.
Those players warming up began vacating the pitch at 2.42. Three minutes later, the stadium announcer issued the message to those in the other stands to “please remain in your seats, please remain calm and remain in your seats”. Added on to the end was a message to all club staff that “Code Red” was in operation. This was the first public confirmation. The word was out. Why didn’t anyone from the private company react?
The Stretford End and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand were now empty, barring police and sniffer dogs. Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice- chairman, and John Alexander, the club secretary, could be seen consulting with Richard Scudamore, the executive chairman of the Premier League,
The decision was made by the Premier League that the game most affected by this one, Manchester City’s match away to Swansea City, should kick off on time, indicating that officials realised that the United game would not be played. There was no consideration of holding on to synchronise kick-off times. This was too serious to worry about Champions League qualification.
At 3pm, Phil Townsend, United’s director of communications, held an impromptu briefing in a stairwell adjacent to the press box. Townsend is one of the most measured, experienced practitioners of his craft and he delivered his message with the calmness that characterised the club yesterday. He confirmed that a “suspect package has been found in the northwest quadrant and that police were investigating”. A vigilant steward noticed a mobile phone taped to a gas pipe in the toilets.
Shortly after that, word began circulating amongst supporters milling around outside that the game was off. Stewards were instructing them to move away from the ground. Inside, there was no confirmation of any abandonment. United issued further appeals to fans in the South and East stands to remain in their seats. Those fans were following events outside via social media and hearing about an abandonment. United’s desire for an orderly evacuation, releasing information about the abandonment slowly to supporters, ran into the reality that fans inside already suspected as much.
Bournemouth announced the match “abandoned due to safety fears” at 3.07 on their Twitter feed. At 3.09 came the slight change in the wording but the same message for fans “to await further instruction” even while thousands were walking away from the ground outside. That’s when Bournemouth fans chanted: “You don’t know what you’re doing”.
They knew exactly what they were doing in terms of an emergency operation. This was a staggered retreat. By 3.15, fans inside the ground were becoming increasingly restless. “Champions League, you’re having a laugh,” taunted the Bournemouth fans, aware that City were ahead.
A minute later came the announcement inside the ground that the “match has been abandoned on police advice”. The security operation was well under way. The army was called in, including bomb-disposal experts. Staff and the media were moved out at 3.45 as sniffer dogs went through the ground.
Bomb-disposal experts assessed what they described as “an incredibly lifelike explosive device”, took photographs and shortly after 4.30 carried out a controlled explosion. According to the Greater Manchester Police, a “full assessment” was then made by the bomb-disposal experts of the photographs and remaining evidence and they concluded that the “device wasn’t viable”. Why did the company not request photographs to find out whether it was its device, and therefore harmless? Too many questions.
Yet what happened at Old Trafford yesterday showed that supporters accept the consequences of dealing with this state of heightened tension. Fans were admirably sanguine, in some parts totally defiant. An hour after the abandonment, United fans in a nearby bar were heard singing: “Jihadi John, we don’t give a f***; because we’re going to win the FA Cup”.
United travel south on Saturday to face Crystal Palace at Wembley when security will again be tight. Whatever the bizarre roots of this incident, football knows that it is a target. On June 6, England travel to Chantilly, on the outskirts of Paris, where Roy Hodgson’s squad are based for the European Championship. The FA held an internal security meeting last week, preparing itself for the tournament.
Trouble comes in many shapes and sizes but at least yesterday showed that the clubs and authorities had contingency plans — and some questions to answer.
Timeline of trouble
2.40pm An “operation code red” is heard over the public address system and the players, who were warming up, leave the pitch.
2.42pm Live pictures show fans walking out.
2.45pm It is confirmed that the Stretford End and Sir Alex Ferguson Stand are being evacuated by stewards. Fans in other stands as well as media and players are told to remain and stay calm.
2.50pm Reports that the game will be delayed by 45 minutes cause speculation about Manchester City’s game with Swansea. With the Manchester rivals fighting for the final Champions League spot, there are claims that City’s match will also be delayed.
3pm The East Stand and Sir Bobby Charlton stand remain filled with confused supporters. Meanwhile, security teams and police with sniffer dogs begin to patrol the other two empty stands. City’s match kicks off on time.
3.05pm Following reports on social media, confirmation comes from United that the evacuation was due to a suspect package being found in the northwest quadrant of the ground.
3.07pm Bournemouth’s official Twitter account says the match has been abandoned.
3.12pm Despite further tweets from various official accounts saying that the match has been abandoned, there is no announcement from United and many fans remain in the ground. Pictures emerge of United’s Michael Carrick in the tunnel at Old Trafford, looking concerned as he speaks on his mobile phone.
3.16pm Confirmation from United that the match has been abandoned on the advice of police. The rest of the ground is evacuated and sniffer dogs continue to patrol the stands. Coleen Rooney, wife of United captain Wayne, tweets: “We are out of the stadium fine. Hopefully everything and everyone is ok.”
3.40pm The bomb disposal unit makes its way to the ground while United midfielder Ander Herrera speaks to Spanish media from the dressing room. He says: “It seems we’ll be the last ones to leave the stadium. It has been very tense and we have all been nervous.”
4pm The media also leave the stadium. Ed Chamberlin, Graeme Souness, Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher, deliver the “half-time” analysis on Sky Sports 1 from a car park.
4.30pm Social media reports say the package was a telephone attached to a pipe.
4.40pm Police confirm “a controlled explosion” has been carried out. The United players then leave the ground.
6pm Reports begin to circulate that the device may have been an elaborate hoax. Police call it a “incredibly lifelike explosive device”.
6.15pm Police say that the device “wasn’t viable”.
9.50pm Reports that the device was left in error in a training drill.
10pm Police confirm: “A device was accidentally left by private company following training.”
Share
The explanation about the suspect device at Old Trafford being “accidentally” left by a private company training search dogs raises more questions than answers. Admiration for the smoothness of Manchester United’s Code Red evacuation operation is offset by the fact that the club have been embarrassed by events. United were not as in control as they liked to make out. As they launch their investigation today, they must establish why the device was not discovered in the usual security sweep of the stadium long before fans were allowed through the turnstiles. The exact nature of their relationship with the training company will come under scrutiny.
Did no one at the club not recall that a group had been in with dogs searching for a dummy device in midweek? Somebody surely noticed dogs running all over Old Trafford? And why didn’t a member of this private company not contact the club alerting them to the possibility of the device having been left behind?
Social media and more traditional news outlets such as radio, television and print websites were awash with stories and pictures about the abandonment. However sheepish they would have been at forgetting one of their dummy devices, this company must have known that staying silent, and seeing 76,000 fans turned away, would leave them open to considerable legal redress.
Manchester airport last night was full of disappointed supporters heading south. Some children may have been unnerved by the experience of being forced to leave a stadium because of a suspect device.
As investigations continue today, United and Greater Manchester Police have to examine similarities with an incident at Molineux in 2014. Both parties have to face questions as to whether the whole event was one big training exercise. After the Trafford Centre hosting a training event recently, was it Old Trafford’s turn? The idea of sacrificing an important Barclays Premier League match simply to prove an emergency operation works seems far-fetched. But United and Greater Manchester Police have to address such questions.
At least they answered the question that they can clear a stadium efficiently. Breaking off from patting beach-balls into the air, Bournemouth supporters wondered what was going on as the areas furthest from them, the Stretford End and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, gradually emptied. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” they chanted after an announcement over the Old Trafford speakers, instructing them to “remain in their seats”.
But they did know what they were doing. Code Red was signalled to Manchester United stewards and staff at 2.40pm. Old Trafford was quietly and systematically evacuated row by row, block by block, stand by stand. Sniffer dogs wove in and out of the aisles. The bomb disposal unit was on its way. The Sky team of Ed Chamberlin, Graeme Souness, Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher moved outside, and continued broadcasting from the car park as a bomb disposal lorry drove past them.
The Sky Sports team continued their broadcast from the Old Trafford car parks
The evacuation was calm, orderly, and was staggered to remove first those in closest proximity to the threat in the northwest quadrant and then avoid a heavy build-up of fans suddenly funnelling out of the ground.
The bomb-disposal experts then conducted a controlled explosion of what ultimately turned out to be a dummy device. Even though the origins of yesterday’s events were rooted in farce and unacceptable behaviour by the training company, what yesterday showed was that the game is now on high alert. Sensitivity over a possible terrorist attack is inevitably heightened since the Paris atrocities of November 13 last year.
Similarly, concern has intensified after last Thursday’s warning from Theresa May, the home secretary, of an increased risk from the IRA. Sport has never been targeted by the dissident Republicans. It is the threat of Islamic State, and the attacks on Paris that left 130 people dead, that have focused minds here. Isis’s willingness to target sporting events were seen when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside Stade de France after being prevented from entering the arena where France were playing. The FA liaised with its French counterparts before Didier Deschamps’s side visited Wembley shortly afterwards.
As the Premier League emphasised last night, the safety of supporters and all inside the ground was paramount. The mantra of “better safe than sorry” guides sporting authorities when it comes to even the hint of a threat. Keeping a closer eye on who you rent your ground out to may be a good idea, too.
The authorities are leaving nothing to chance, and security checks have proliferated at Old Trafford and other grounds this season. There was an outer cordon 50 metres from Old Trafford yesterday, where stewards looked through bags and then another bag search before entering the ground, followed by a brief frisking. Queues at turnstiles have lengthened this season because of the new measures. Fans, though, largely take such frustrations in their stride.
An additional check awaited those driving into the official car parks at the stadium. Some cars were stopped and a mirror placed underneath, checking for devices. Fans accept it. Paris changed everything.
Code Red was conducted quietly. “We didn’t want panic,” a club official said. After the discovery of the device, stewards began walking through the aisles in the northwest quadrant at 2.30 telling supporters to leave. The message spread through word of mouth, not through the speakers. United’s strategy was clearly to move quickly those fans in the immediate vicinity of the apparent package and then address the surrounding areas without any announcement that would spark a rush.
The evacuation quickened from 2.40, initially in the northwest quadrant and then spreading out to include all the Stretford End and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. Supporters in the other two stands watched with increasing surprise as one half of the ground emptied. “We’ve got more fans than you,’’ chanted the Bournemouth fans.
That drew applause from the United support present. “Your ground’s too big for you,” came the next chant from the visiting fans.
Those players warming up began vacating the pitch at 2.42. Three minutes later, the stadium announcer issued the message to those in the other stands to “please remain in your seats, please remain calm and remain in your seats”. Added on to the end was a message to all club staff that “Code Red” was in operation. This was the first public confirmation. The word was out. Why didn’t anyone from the private company react?
The Stretford End and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand were now empty, barring police and sniffer dogs. Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice- chairman, and John Alexander, the club secretary, could be seen consulting with Richard Scudamore, the executive chairman of the Premier League,
The decision was made by the Premier League that the game most affected by this one, Manchester City’s match away to Swansea City, should kick off on time, indicating that officials realised that the United game would not be played. There was no consideration of holding on to synchronise kick-off times. This was too serious to worry about Champions League qualification.
At 3pm, Phil Townsend, United’s director of communications, held an impromptu briefing in a stairwell adjacent to the press box. Townsend is one of the most measured, experienced practitioners of his craft and he delivered his message with the calmness that characterised the club yesterday. He confirmed that a “suspect package has been found in the northwest quadrant and that police were investigating”. A vigilant steward noticed a mobile phone taped to a gas pipe in the toilets.
Shortly after that, word began circulating amongst supporters milling around outside that the game was off. Stewards were instructing them to move away from the ground. Inside, there was no confirmation of any abandonment. United issued further appeals to fans in the South and East stands to remain in their seats. Those fans were following events outside via social media and hearing about an abandonment. United’s desire for an orderly evacuation, releasing information about the abandonment slowly to supporters, ran into the reality that fans inside already suspected as much.
Bournemouth announced the match “abandoned due to safety fears” at 3.07 on their Twitter feed. At 3.09 came the slight change in the wording but the same message for fans “to await further instruction” even while thousands were walking away from the ground outside. That’s when Bournemouth fans chanted: “You don’t know what you’re doing”.
They knew exactly what they were doing in terms of an emergency operation. This was a staggered retreat. By 3.15, fans inside the ground were becoming increasingly restless. “Champions League, you’re having a laugh,” taunted the Bournemouth fans, aware that City were ahead.
A minute later came the announcement inside the ground that the “match has been abandoned on police advice”. The security operation was well under way. The army was called in, including bomb-disposal experts. Staff and the media were moved out at 3.45 as sniffer dogs went through the ground.
Bomb-disposal experts assessed what they described as “an incredibly lifelike explosive device”, took photographs and shortly after 4.30 carried out a controlled explosion. According to the Greater Manchester Police, a “full assessment” was then made by the bomb-disposal experts of the photographs and remaining evidence and they concluded that the “device wasn’t viable”. Why did the company not request photographs to find out whether it was its device, and therefore harmless? Too many questions.
Yet what happened at Old Trafford yesterday showed that supporters accept the consequences of dealing with this state of heightened tension. Fans were admirably sanguine, in some parts totally defiant. An hour after the abandonment, United fans in a nearby bar were heard singing: “Jihadi John, we don’t give a f***; because we’re going to win the FA Cup”.
United travel south on Saturday to face Crystal Palace at Wembley when security will again be tight. Whatever the bizarre roots of this incident, football knows that it is a target. On June 6, England travel to Chantilly, on the outskirts of Paris, where Roy Hodgson’s squad are based for the European Championship. The FA held an internal security meeting last week, preparing itself for the tournament.
Trouble comes in many shapes and sizes but at least yesterday showed that the clubs and authorities had contingency plans — and some questions to answer.
Timeline of trouble
2.40pm An “operation code red” is heard over the public address system and the players, who were warming up, leave the pitch.
2.42pm Live pictures show fans walking out.
2.45pm It is confirmed that the Stretford End and Sir Alex Ferguson Stand are being evacuated by stewards. Fans in other stands as well as media and players are told to remain and stay calm.
2.50pm Reports that the game will be delayed by 45 minutes cause speculation about Manchester City’s game with Swansea. With the Manchester rivals fighting for the final Champions League spot, there are claims that City’s match will also be delayed.
3pm The East Stand and Sir Bobby Charlton stand remain filled with confused supporters. Meanwhile, security teams and police with sniffer dogs begin to patrol the other two empty stands. City’s match kicks off on time.
3.05pm Following reports on social media, confirmation comes from United that the evacuation was due to a suspect package being found in the northwest quadrant of the ground.
3.07pm Bournemouth’s official Twitter account says the match has been abandoned.
3.12pm Despite further tweets from various official accounts saying that the match has been abandoned, there is no announcement from United and many fans remain in the ground. Pictures emerge of United’s Michael Carrick in the tunnel at Old Trafford, looking concerned as he speaks on his mobile phone.
3.16pm Confirmation from United that the match has been abandoned on the advice of police. The rest of the ground is evacuated and sniffer dogs continue to patrol the stands. Coleen Rooney, wife of United captain Wayne, tweets: “We are out of the stadium fine. Hopefully everything and everyone is ok.”
3.40pm The bomb disposal unit makes its way to the ground while United midfielder Ander Herrera speaks to Spanish media from the dressing room. He says: “It seems we’ll be the last ones to leave the stadium. It has been very tense and we have all been nervous.”
4pm The media also leave the stadium. Ed Chamberlin, Graeme Souness, Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher, deliver the “half-time” analysis on Sky Sports 1 from a car park.
4.30pm Social media reports say the package was a telephone attached to a pipe.
4.40pm Police confirm “a controlled explosion” has been carried out. The United players then leave the ground.
6pm Reports begin to circulate that the device may have been an elaborate hoax. Police call it a “incredibly lifelike explosive device”.
6.15pm Police say that the device “wasn’t viable”.
9.50pm Reports that the device was left in error in a training drill.
10pm Police confirm: “A device was accidentally left by private company following training.”
Share
