Dummy bomb ‘recorded as removed’ from Old Trafford stadium

A dummy bomb which sparked the evacuation of thousands of football fans from Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground was recorded as having been removed by the security firm which left it there, the club’s executive vice-chairman said.

Ed Woodward made the comment the day after bomb disposal experts were called to the 75,000-seat stadium to carry out a controlled explosion on the “incredibly lifelike” training device which sparked a red alert.

The fake, which had been used in a training exercise, was found in a toilet just minutes before Manchester United were due on the pitch, leading to the Barclays Premier League game against Bournemouth being postponed.