A man was taken into custody in Manchester under suspicion of creating an explosive device, triggering a significant emergency reaction.
Emergency services swiftly arrived at Canal Street on Monday, May 11, in response to reports of potential ‘chemical substances’ discovered in a hotel room. Following public alerts to the police about the smell of suspected chemicals, specialized teams meticulously combed through the room.
To ensure safety, a large area of the bustling street was cordoned off, leading to the evacuation of the hotel, as well as nearby bars and pubs. Greater Manchester Police’s spokesperson later confirmed that the chemical substances found in the room were under examination and being safely removed.
The detained man, suspected to have been residing in the room, was held on suspicion of crafting an explosive device and was being interrogated while in custody. Fortunately, the examination of the chemicals revealed no explosive risks, and no injuries were reported during the incident.
The police statement mentioned that the response to the Canal Street incident was being scaled back after the examination of the chemical substances. Efforts were underway to restore normalcy at the hotel after the precautionary evacuation of staff and guests. The public and adjacent businesses were appreciated for their cooperation during the operation.
Canal Street remained sealed off between Sackville Street and Richmond Street for a few hours, with a visible presence of numerous police officers and firefighters on-site. Detectives were observed canvassing businesses along the street, while forensics officers in white suits documented the scene and specialized teams examined the materials.
