Birmingham evacuated
hhhh | 09.07.2005 23:12 | Birmingham
11.15PM, Sat Jul 9 2005
20,000 people have been evacuated from Birmingham city centre after police warned of a possible security threat.
Police closed down the Birmingham Broad street entertainment zone and asked people to leave "as a precautionary measure".
It has been reported that police had also carried out a controlled explosions on a double decker bus, in response to a credible threat to public safety.
A spokesman said: We have officers down there and the operation is under way."
He said he could not confirm the nature of the intelligence received by the force but added: "Clearly it is being taken seriously.
"We have always said public safety is our absolute priority."
The force asked for bars, restaurants and clubs to be searched and for people entering the premises to be searched.
The police presence in the area was scaled up and no vehicles were allowed past the inner ring road into the city centre.
However, police are yet to confirm the nature of the threat.
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