UK train station evacuated after 'grenade' is found on platform

Passengers at Birmingham New Street station have been forced to evacuate following reports that a grenade was found on one of the platforms.

All lines running through the station have been blocked as a result of the incident which unfolded this afternoon (31 October), with CrossCountry trains sharing updates about the events on Twitter.

"Due to a security alert at Birmingham New Street all lines are blocked. Train services running across the whole CrossCountry network will be delayed. Disruption is expected until 16:15," the company wrote at first, before adding: "Disruption is now expected until the end of day."

@Eileenjanew/Twitter

In a later statement, CrossCountry wrote: "It is highly recommended that passengers defer travel until tomorrow (1 November) as our services are disrupted across all of our routes. Tickets for today (31 Oct) will be accepted on our services tomorrow."

A statement from National Rail confirmed there is a 'security alert' ongoing at Birmingham New Street, adding: "Trains are currently unable to run through this station. As a result of this, trains may be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes. Major disruption is expected until end of the day."

It's been reported that people at the scene were told to get 'as far away from the building as possible' following the discovery, with one person who was at the station claiming the conductor working on the 15:28 train from Derby told passengers that a suspected grenade had been found at the station on platform 1.

Another conductor is also reported as saying that trains were queuing up to get into the station after the closure was announced.

@BTPBhm

Police and ambulance workers flooded to the scene, and a 100 metre cordon was put in place around the station to keep people away as the events unfold.

According to reports, one police officer at the scene described the situation as a 'serious incident, firearms related'.

Birmingham's British Transport police confirmed it was 'responding to a report of a suspicious item on a platform' at New Street, and said the station was evacuated 'as a precaution while the item is assessed'.

"Thank you for your patience while we respond to this incident," the force added.

Approximately an hour after its first statement, the transport police said the item had 'been assessed by specialist officers and is no longer being treated as suspicious.'

The station is now set to re-open 'shortly', though it's unclear when services will get back to normal.