UPDATE (5:09 p.m. ET): Sunday’s game has been rescheduled for Tuesday (full statement from the Premier League at the bottom of this post and here).
Manchester United’s game against Bournemouth has been postponed over security concerns.
United confirmed a suspect package was found in the North West quadrant of the stadium and large sections of United’s Old Trafford home was evacuated just 15 minutes before they were due to play their final home game of the season.
It has since been confirmed by Greater Manchester police that they have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package found at the stadium, while unconfirmed reports claim a “pipe bomb discovered in the toilets of an executive suite” were among several packages found.
The club then released the following statement as a search of the stadium continues long into the evening.
United were supposed to host Bournemouth with the kick off due for 10 a.m. ET but it was initially delayed and was then postponed.
[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]
News of the evacuation began with players not even finishing their warm ups as they were rushed back into the dressing rooms and the Stretford End and Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and other areas of the stadium were evacuated.
.@neilashton_ provides an update on the situation at Old Trafford. https://t.co/9Z6rSIMaDW
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 15, 2016
Bournemouth and Manchester United then confirmed the news of the postponement, as sniffer dogs and police officers patrolled the stands.
Latest update: A controlled explosion has just been carried out within the stadium by bomb disposal experts at Old Trafford. More to follow.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 15, 2016
The Premier League also released the following statement as they plan to play the game in the coming days. With United’s involvement in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley, finding a time to play the game will be tough.
Following the abandonment of #MUNBOU, the Premier League has issued the following statement... pic.twitter.com/ra4zOaWIwr
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 15, 2016
Below is a look inside Old Trafford as confused fans were shown to the exits with two of the four stands completely empty.
Another message from Manchester United was then issued: “Those inside Old Trafford are asked to remain seated while the forecourt is cleared of fans already evacuated from the stadium. Further announcements will be made as soon as possible.”
The club has since said that “further announcements will be made as soon as possible.”
The moment it was announced at Old Trafford that the match had been abandoned pic.twitter.com/tnMsOxFXbR
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) May 15, 2016
South and East Stands still occupied. North Stand and Stretford End now empty. pic.twitter.com/xUvIFqr9cI
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) May 15, 2016
Here's the strange-looking panorama - a half-evacuated Old Trafford #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/TiCx3x6yz5
— Kris Temple (@kristemple) May 15, 2016
UPDATE: The Premier League has issued the following statement…
“We can confirm that today’s abandoned fixture between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth will be played on Tuesday, May 17 at [2 p.m. ET].
“We would like to thank Manchester United’s staff, the police and other emergency services for all their efforts today as well as rearranging the match for this coming Tuesday.
“Both Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth’s management has been extremely helpful in reaching a swift resolution, which is the best possible given today’s events.”Greater Manchester Police have since confirmed the device, which was found in an Old Trafford toilet, was left inside the famous venue on accident following a training exercise held for safety responders in recent days.
