The Christmas Market in Albert Square has opened almost two hours late after a hoaxer sparked a major security alert1 .
Police have confirmed that there is no risk to the public following an in-depth search of the stalls in Manchester city centre2 .
A troublemaker – believed to be a student – provoked a full security response after claiming there was a package in the festive site3 outside the town hall in the early hours of Friday morning.
READ: Security alert at Albert Square Christmas Markets sparked by ‘stupid’ hoaxer say town hall bosses5
READ: Recap: Manchester’s Christmas Markets in Albert Square cordoned off by police after security scare6
Uniformed officers with sniffer dogs combed the market for more than an hour, while PCSOs guarded all entrances to stop punters from walking onto the site.
Albert Square reopened at around 11.45am, rather than the usual 10am time.
Town hall bosses and police said a stupid and drunk student was to blame for causing mayhem at the popular site.
A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of malicious communication and taken into custody for questioning.
It is believed he had been drinking and suspected he had taken a legal high.
After the stalls opened, Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry said: Based on the nature of information we received, we conducted a thorough search of the area and found nothing suspicious or a threat to the public . I understand people may have been frustrated by the closure but I would like to thank them for their patience.
We take all incidents such as this extremely seriously and the safety of the community we serve is our priority . We have plans in place with the Local Authority for instances such as this and they were implemented successfully.
Coun Nigel Murphy, the council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, said: Greater Manchester Police conducted a search of Albert Square this morning as a precautionary measure after a hoax security threat was called in by a teenager .
They have confirmed that there is no threat to public safety and the Christmas Markets will be open to the public again this morning.
The markets have the appropriate security systems in place, and although we would prefer to never have to test them, it s reassuring that the markets are as safe as they can be and the safety of our visitors is paramount.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2015
References
- ^ sparked a major security alert (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Manchester city centre (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ was a package in the festive site (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Manchester’s Christmas Markets in Albert Square cordoned off by police after security scare (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Security alert at Albert Square Christmas Markets sparked by ‘stupid’ hoaxer say town hall bosses (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Recap: Manchester’s Christmas Markets in Albert Square cordoned off by police after security scare (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Manchester Christmas Markets in Albert Square cordoned off in security scare (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
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