A UK city’s food court was swiftly cleared out following the discovery of a container containing a “suspicious dark powder substance.” The incident took place at the Arndale food court on the evening of January 7, prompting a response from both the police and fire services, as reported by MEN.
After the unsettling find, the area was promptly evacuated under the direction of the food court staff. However, authorities confirmed that there was no immediate threat present.
Greater Manchester Police issued a statement regarding the situation, reassuring the public that the evacuation was purely precautionary. They stated, “We’re currently at the Arndale Centre after a report of a suspicious dark powder substance in a container in the food court. The area has been evacuated by staff purely as a precaution and we are working to ensure everything is okay. No viable risk has been identified at this time and we will look to return the Centre to normal as soon as possible. We thank those in the area for their cooperation while we ensure the area is safe.”
The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed their involvement in the incident, stating that firefighters responded to reports of a suspicious package at the Arndale center. The area was cleared as a precaution by the police, and investigations revealed that there was no actual risk posed by the package. The scene was subsequently handed over to the police.
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