Residents were evacuated from homes in Manchester after a 'suspicious item' was discovered in a front garden. Bomb disposal teams and specialist ambulance units were called to Abram Close in Fallowfield following the discovery at 6:05 PM yesterday.
Incident Details
Army personnel also deployed a robot to inspect the property involved in the incident, according to one resident. The road was cordoned off for several hours, and witnesses reported that a robot was used to search the property. The area, popular with students, saw as many as 20 nearby homes evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Residents were allowed to return to their homes at around 11 PM, and several surrounding roads have since reopened. Incident response units from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) also arrived at the scene.
Witness Accounts
One man stated he was on his way to visit his sister's home when police instructed him to avoid the area. 'Everybody was told to go back. They pushed everyone back,' he told the Manchester Evening News. Another resident of the 'usually peaceful neighbourhood' said the incident made him feel 'a bit nervous.'
Police Statement
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: 'We were called to a suspicious item in a front garden on Abram Close shortly after 6:05 PM. EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) made an assessment and around 20 nearby properties were advised by officers to evacuate as a precaution. The investigation is ongoing.'
In an update on Monday, officers reported finding a second suspicious item outside another property during their searches. The force added that no arrests have been made, but enquiries are ongoing.
