Manchester Arndale meals court docket evacuated after ‘suspicious darkish powder’ present in tub

The Arndale Centre’s food court has been locked down after Greater Manchester Police received reports of a suspicious dark powder substance found in a container

The Arndale food court has been evacuated following the discovery of a container filled with a ‘suspicious dark powder substance’. Police said the area was cleared as a ‘precaution’ on Wednesday evening, January 7.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “We’re currently at the Arndale Centre after a report of a suspicious dark powder substance in a container in the food court.

“The area has been evacuated by staff purely as a precaution and we are working to ensure everything is okay. No viable risk has been identified at this time and we will look to return the Centre to normal as soon as possible,” reports the Manchester Evening News.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said, “At around 6pm this evening (Wednesday, 7^th January), firefighters were called to reports of a suspicious package at the Andale centre in Manchester city centre.

“The area was evacuated as a precaution by colleagues from Greater Manchester Police.

“Two fire engines from Manchester Central fire station attended the incident, as well as GMFRS’s Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection Officer. Investigations have indicated that there was no risk presented by the package.

“Crews have now handed the incident over to GMP and left the scene.”

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