Station closure over luggage scare causes rush-hour chaos

A MAN was arrested yesterday under anti-terror laws at Snow Hill railway station in Birmingham.

The station was closed for several hours, causing disruption to thousands of commuters at the height of the Friday evening rush hour.

The disruption mirrored that experienced by passengers in London and highlighted the fact the nerves were on edge across Britain after the London attacks.

West Midlands Police said later that the man had been interviewed by officers but was not facing any criminal charges.

He was released following questioning by detectives.

Two suitcases were also examined by explosives officers, British Transport Police said.

Inspector Phil Milton of British Transport Police told reporters later that the packages were not found to be suspicious.

“The bomb disposal team have been and checked and found it to be safe,” he said.

Asked how the incident came to light, he revealed that the alarm was raised by an off-duty officer who saw a man and believed his behaviour to be suspect.

The man, said only to be an adult who had travelled from London, was on the train at the time.

Asked if the arrest was connected to the London bombings, the officer added: “As far as I know it’s wholly unconnected.”

A large blue suitcase and smaller hand luggage wrapped in police tape were later seen being loaded into a British Transport Police car.

The station re-opened to the public at 8.15pm, having been closed at 5.55pm yesterday.

Local offices were also evacuated, but there was no immediate information linking the arrest to the London attacks.

West Midlands Police said earlier in a statement: “Snow Hill station has been evacuated and cordoned off. “One man has been detained under section 44 of the Terrorism Act.

“Two suitcases at the train station are being investigated by the army bomb squad.”

A small group of people, many of them waiting to get back to cars parked in the streets behind the station and in its car park, were gathered outside the entrance to Snow Hill.

Police dogs were at the scene, while police cars, vans and officers stood guard on the road.

The cordon preventing people from going into the area stretched for two blocks.

Station workers, who declined to be named, told reporters the evacuation signal was given at about 5.30pm.

One of the workers who had been evacuated said: “It was very organised. We are trained for it.

“Even though it was the evening rush hour and there were thousands of people, everyone was fine about it.”

Another added: “We have got all the normal security procedures but since the events of the last two weeks, everyone is more alert now.”