A bomb scare threatened to delay the start of Arsenal’s Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday.
Police found a suspicious package in a parking lot near Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium about 90 minutes before the game was scheduled to kick off, according to the Mirror.
“Just after 2:30 p.m. [9:30 a.m. ET], Metropolitan Police officers prevented members of the public and press from approaching the ground and an officer used a loud speaker to inform spectators that police were looking into an incident,” the Mirror reports. “However, at just before 3 p.m., police lifted the cordon and allowed access to the stadium.”
FOX Soccer reported that both teams left their dressing rooms at one point. They were allowed to return before the start of the game.
There were fears that the scare would delay the start of the game or that it would be postponed, but police gave the incident an all-clear and the game went ahead as scheduled.
Nevertheless, a few fans used Twitter to turn a nervous moment into a lighthearted one.
The package at the centre of the bomb scare at Arsenal been sorted-Just Man City’s ticket allocation being returned ‘cos of the silly prices
— Brendan Bradley (@brenb1971) January 13, 2013
Bomb scare at Arsenal ground , all spectators evacuated . Now charged £62 to get back in ground #twittboll
— Al Pitcher (@TheAlPitcher) January 13, 2013
Bomb scare @ Emirates area evacuated, Arsenal fans reported a strange & suspicious looking package, seems Citeh brought a Trophy with them!
— Andy Silverman (@ChelsLad66) January 13, 2013
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