Old Trafford bomb scare caused by training error

The bomb scare at Old Trafford yesterday was caused by a training mistake – not an act of terror.

76,000 terrified fans were evacuated from Manchester United’s home stadium after a device was found in one of the toilets. However sources now reveal it was caused by a dummy device apparently left in the stadium by mistake on a training exercise.

Fans were ordered to leave Old Trafford minutes before the scheduled kick-off of the club’s final match of the season yesterday afternoon when an ‘incredibly lifelike explosive device’ was found.

A special appliance from the bomb disposal unit is pictured underneath the grandstand at Old Trafford as it prepares to check the device

But last night police confirmed that the ‘bomb’ was left at the stadium in error in the days leading up to the game on the final weekend of the Premier League season.

A security training exercise involving sniffer dogs was conducted at the ground by a private company and the device, designed to look authentic, was not removed afterwards.

A suspect package was found strapped to some pipes in a toilet cubicle in the north-west corner of the ground, according to reports — Around 76,000 fans were evacuated from the stadium

Greater Manchester’s Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has now called the incident ‘outrageous’ and demanded a full inquiry.

It came as it was reported that two weeks ago batteries were found taped to the bottom of United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward’s chair in the ground in an odd security breach.