UK suicide vest ‘prank’ sparks police alert

Pranksters have been criticised by police after sparking a security alert by leaving a mock suicide vest in a busy city centre days after the Paris terror attacks.

A member of the public raised the alarm after seeing the item hanging on railings in central Sheffield.

Officers raced to the scene at Furnival Gate and checks quickly revealed the vest was a “homemade replica” which contained no viable parts or explosive elements.