Police evacuate part of Manchester city centre after 'suspicious package' is found on a bus
- Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester was evacuated at around 1.15pm this afternoon
- Police confirmed they were called to reports of a 'suspicious item' found on a bus
- Piccadilly Gardens was then reopened and the cordon was lifted at around 4pm
Part of Manchester's city centre was evacuated and cordoned off after a 'suspicious package' was found on a bus, police said.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that they were called to reports that a 'suspicious item' was found on a bus at 1.15pm today.
Piccadilly Gardens was sealed off and several surrounding roads were closed as a cordon was put in place.
Officers were in attendance and the bus was evacuated as a precaution, the force said in a statement.
Around three hours later, the cordon was lifted and Piccadilly Gardens was reopened.
Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester was evacuated earlier today after a 'suspicious package' was found on a bus, police confirmed
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that they were called to reports that a 'suspicious item' was found on a bus at 1.15pm today
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: 'Police are currently responding to an incident in the city centre.
'The bus has been evacuated as a precaution and a cordon remains in place.
'Enquiries are ongoing.'
Manchester and Wigan Stagecoach also confirmed that services that normally use Piccadilly Gardens bus station on Parker Street were diverted.
They said: 'All services that would normally use Parker Street (Piccadilly Gardens bus station) will start the routes from Portland Street (Outside Yates). The services will operate on a load and go basis.
'This is due to a Police incident. Sorry if this affects your journey with us today.
Just after 4pm, they confirmed that Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station has reopened with services operating from 'normal stands'.
'There are also no Metrolink services operating through Piccadilly or Market Street, with trams operating from Exchange Square instead, Manchester Metrolink said.
Transport for Greater Manchester said on Twitter: 'Due to a Police Incident Parker Street, Piccadilly is closed.
'Congestion expected on Portland St, please use an alternative route if possible.'
Around three hours later, the cordon was lifted and Piccadilly Gardens was reopened
Manchester councillor Pat Karney wrote on Twitter that crowds had 'been pushed back from Piccadilly' while four ambulances were among emergency services in attendance
Pictures and videos of the scene have been shared on Twitter, including a number of posts from Manchester councillor Pat Karney.
He said that crowds had 'been pushed back from Piccadilly' while four ambulances and a helicopter were among emergency services at the scene.
He tweeted: 'Suspicious Package on a bus in Piccadilly.
'Major incident response.'
Police have urged people to avoid the area while the ongoing incident is being dealt with.
Councillor Pat Karney said: 'There are four ambulances, numerous police vehicles, a helicopter. All the emergency services. It's a major incident.
'The bus station is cordoned off and all the shops have been emptied. People can't cross Piccadilly so there's a big crowd on Minshull Street.
'The crowds are being pushed back, they are obviously taking every precaution.'
Officers are in attendance and several roads have been closed with a cordon remaining in place
Transport for Greater Manchester said that Piccadilly has closed following the incident. No buses or Metrolink services are operating in the area
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said the road closures will remain in place while the incident is ongoing, but reassured people it is getting 'all the attention it needs'.
He told BBC North West: 'There are experts on the scene. Until the package has been properly accessed, of course, we will have to keep the road closures in place. It is an ongoing incident, there is not a great deal more I can say at this moment in time.
'But people can be reassured that it is getting all the attention it needs, people are working quickly to resolve it. What I would say to people is obviously to avoid the area for the time-being.'
An eyewitness reportedly told Manchester Evening News: 'The tram stop was cordoned off - there was police tape everywhere. Piccadilly Gardens has been evacuated - mounted police are guarding the scene.'
One person on Twitter added that the cordon had 'blocked off' the roads from Piccadilly Gardens down to Yates.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMic2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODcwMDk0NS9Qb2xpY2UtZXZhY3VhdGUtTWFuY2hlc3Rlci1jaXR5LWNlbnRyZS1zdXNwaWNpb3VzLXBhY2thZ2UtYnVzLmh0bWzSAXdodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTg3MDA5NDUvYW1wL1BvbGljZS1ldmFjdWF0ZS1NYW5jaGVzdGVyLWNpdHktY2VudHJlLXN1c3BpY2lvdXMtcGFja2FnZS1idXMuaHRtbA?oc=5
2020-09-05 13:39:28Z
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