Two security firms have been named and fined following the fake bomb scare at Old Trafford yesterday.
After a controlled explosion was carried out, it was discovered the suspect package was just a fake device.
It's now known that specialist sniffer dog team Deacons Canines had been carrying out a training exercise with Security Search Management and Solutions Ltd and accidentally left the package behind.
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The game was called off and all fans were evacuated shortly before the 3:00pm kick-off.
Sniffer dogs at Old Trafford. Credit: Getty
Manchester United have yet to run a full investigation but will face a more-than-hefty £3 million bill to re-schedule the game to tomorrow.
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MUFC executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: "The safety of fans is always our highest priority.
"I'd like to thank the support from the police which was first class and the impeccable response from fans of both teams.
"The Club takes security very seriously and staff are regularly trained with the police and emergency services to identify and deal with these incidents.
"We will investigate the incident to inform future actions and decisions."
Credit: PA
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Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester's Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner, also commented on the "fiasco."
He said: "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.
"This fiasco caused massive inconvenience to supporters who had come from far and wide to watch the match, wasted the time of huge numbers of police officers and the army's bomb squad, and unnecessarily put people in danger, as evacuating tens of thousands of people from a football stadium is not without risk.
"Whilst this in no way demeans the professionalism of the police and stewards responsible for getting the fans out, or the supporters' calmness and cooperation during the evacuation, it is unacceptable that it happened in the first place."
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The bomb scare comes just a month before the Euro 2016 tournament in France, which security sources fear will become a real target.
Words by Josh Teal
Featured image credit: PA
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester United