20,000 evacuated in Birmingham terror alert
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-10 10:38

More than 20,000 people were evacuated last night from Birmingham city centre after police received what was described as "intelligence of a terrorist threat".

A picture released Saturday July 9, 2005 by the London Metropolitan Police shows the damage to the London Underground train which was involved in the terrorist attack at Aldgate tube station on Thursday. Police revised the timing of the deadly blasts that tore through the London Underground, saying on Saturday the explosions were detonated just seconds apart. [AP]

The Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Stuart Hyde, said that the Broad Street entertainment district and the city's Chinese quarter were being cleared after an intelligence warning of a "substantial threat" to the areas.

He said that a controlled explosion was carried out on a bus in Corporation Street earlier in the evening following a call from a member of the public, although officers now believe that the item destroyed had not posed a threat.

Mr Hyde added: "We are acting on information that we have received. Clearly you wouldn't expect me to detail to you the nature of that information, but putting public safety first and following very careful analysis, we have come to the conclusion that the best way to protect the public is to shut Broad Street tonight and to close the Hurst Street area of the city as well."

These areas are the hub of Birmingham's energetic nightlife, and are thought to contain around 200 bars and clubs. Police insisted that the decision to close such a large part of the city had not been taken lightly. "We have made this decision after careful analysis and consideration and we are very, very grateful to the public for their understanding. We believe it is a proportionate response to the information. I would ask the public to stay vigilant."

The full-scale alert was by far the biggest of several security scares in Britain over the past two days, showing that the country and its security services and police are understandably jittery after Thursday's bombs atrocities in London.

But Mr Hyde said: "I don't believe that the incident that we are dealing with this evening is connected with the events of 7 July in London. I want to make that pretty clear.

Shortly after the alert began, around 8pm, a police spokesman told the Press Association: "West Midlands police ... are now closing down the Broad Street entertainment zone and asking people to leave Birmingham town centre and go home."

People did as they were told, with no trouble or arrests reported. One resident, Phil Debenham, said: "We tried to get into the centre of Birmingham this evening but were turned back by the police. They wouldn't tell us any reason." He said people were leaving the area calmly. Staff at BBC Birmingham's Mailbox Centre were evacuated from the building, and the Five Live Late Night Live programme between 10pm and 1am was also diverted to London.

West Midlands Police earlier issued a public warning to people visiting Birmingham city centre tonight. It asked for bars, restaurants and clubs to be searched and for people entering the premises to be searched. No vehicles were allowed into the city centre.

More than 20,000 people were evacuated last night from Birmingham city centre after police received what was described as "intelligence of a terrorist threat".

The Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Stuart Hyde, said that the Broad Street entertainment district and the city's Chinese quarter were being cleared after an intelligence warning of a "substantial threat" to the areas.

He said that a controlled explosion was carried out on a bus in Corporation Street earlier in the evening following a call from a member of the public, although officers now believe that the item destroyed had not posed a threat. Mr Hyde added: "We are acting on information that we have received. Clearly you wouldn't expect me to detail to you the nature of that information, but putting public safety first and following very careful analysis, we have come to the conclusion that the best way to protect the public is to shut Broad Street tonight and to close the Hurst Street area of the city as well."

These areas are the hub of Birmingham's energetic nightlife, and are thought to contain around 200 bars and clubs. Police insisted that the decision to close such a large part of the city had not been taken lightly. "We have made this decision after careful analysis and consideration and we are very, very grateful to the public for their understanding. We believe it is a proportionate response to the information. I would ask the public to stay vigilant."
The full-scale alert was by far the biggest of several security scares in Britain over the past two days, showing that the country and its security services and police are understandably jittery after Thursday's bombs atrocities in London.

But Mr Hyde said: "I don't believe that the incident that we are dealing with this evening is connected with the events of 7 July in London. I want to make that pretty clear.

Shortly after the alert began, around 8pm, a police spokesman told the Press Association: "West Midlands police ... are now closing down the Broad Street entertainment zone and asking people to leave Birmingham town centre and go home."

People did as they were told, with no trouble or arrests reported. One resident, Phil Debenham, said: "We tried to get into the centre of Birmingham this evening but were turned back by the police. They wouldn't tell us any reason." He said people were leaving the area calmly. Staff at BBC Birmingham's Mailbox Centre were evacuated from the building, and the Five Live Late Night Live programme between 10pm and 1am was also diverted to London.

West Midlands Police earlier issued a public warning to people visiting Birmingham city centre tonight. It asked for bars, restaurants and clubs to be searched and for people entering the premises to be searched. No vehicles were allowed into the city centre.