Police: Fake bomb at Man United left from training exercise

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — A fake bomb left behind during a security exercise led police to evacuate Manchester United’s home stadium on Sunday, disrupting the final day of the English Premier League season and bringing embarrassment to one of the world’s best-known sports teams.

Police initially described the device as ”incredibly lifelike” as United’s planned match with Bournemouth was cancelled, to boos from some fans, and a controlled explosion was carried out.

But hours later, bomb technicians reported it was a fake. And a later statement by police said the device had been inadvertently left in a toilet during an earlier training exercise involving sniffer dogs.

The series of events Sunday came amid tightened security at Premier League stadiums following last year’s Paris attacks that targeted the Stade de France sports stadium as well as cafes, bars and a concert hall. It also followed the British government’s announcement Wednesday that it was raising the nation’s threat level due to intelligence indicating the ”strong possibility” of attacks in Britain by factions of the outlawed Irish Republican Army.

The Premier League has rescheduled the match for Tuesday. United said it was investigating the incident.

”It is outrageous this situation arose and a full inquiry is required to urgently find out how this happened, why it happened and who will be held accountable,” said Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester’s mayor as well as the district’s police and crime commissioner.

Sunday’s match was the first Premier League game to be postponed because of a bomb threat. An exhibition soccer game between Germany and the Netherlands was canceled in November after police said they received a bomb threat. No …

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