Town hall bosses say a stupid hoaxer has sparked a full security alert causing mayhem in Albert Square.
Manchester s largest Christmas Market was evacuated by police after the scare on Friday morning.
City councillor Pat Karney said: This stupid, silly person has triggered our full security response and officers are now searching the stalls . I hope when he sobers up he realises the mayhem he has caused . We believe it will be business as usual again soon.
Live updates: Manchester’s Christmas Markets in Albert Square cordoned off by police after security scare2
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communication in connection with the incident in Albert Square.
The MEN understands the arrested man is a student who made a 999 call.
A police source told the MEN that the arrested man had been drinking and is suspected to have taken a legal high.
Officers with sniffer dogs were seen searching the closed stalls outside the town hall on Friday morning, as PCSOs guarded every entrance.
Uniformed constables were spotted looking between the outlets and scouring the spaces underneath the wooden huts with torches.
A GMP spokesman said: At 4.50am on Friday 27 November 2015, police received an abandoned 999 call regarding the Christmas Markets in Manchester city centre .
Later, a man claimed a package had been left in the market .
A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communication and remains in custody for questioning.
The market has been temporarily cordoned off while officers ensure there is no threat to members of the public.
References
- ^ Manchester Christmas Markets in Albert Square cordoned off in security scare (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Manchester’s Christmas Markets in Albert Square cordoned off by police after security scare (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Manchester’s Christmas Markets in Albert Square cordoned off by police after security scare (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
The post Security alert at Albert Square Christmas Markets sparked by ‘stupid’ hoaxer … appeared first on News4Security.