An Army bomb disposal team carried out a controlled explosion at a park in north Manchester tonight.
Locals in Newton Heath reported officers blocking the entrances to Brookdale Park earlier this evening.
The bomb disposal unit as well as uniformed officers were seen in the area keeping people away. Traffic on Droylsden Road was also briefly stopped.
One eyewitness said she saw the bomb squad put items in a box and cover them with sandbags before they were blown up.
Greater Manchester Police tonight confirmed they were seized items which were being destroyed.
In a short statement they said: "Bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled explosion of previously-seized exhibits at Brookdale Park, Manchester shortly before 6.30pm on Thursday 26 September 2019."
They said "operational reasons" meant they could not disclose anything more about the items or where or when they were seized.
The operation caused concern in the local area with a crowd gathering at edge of the park to try and see what was going on.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "They weren't allowing anyone in to the park.
"There were lots of police officers and they were moving everyone back.
"At one point cars couldn't go past either but they eventually let the traffic go again.
"They wouldn't tell us what was happening but just said it was 'nothing to worry about'.
"We saw the bomb squad there and they looked like they put a little box in the ground and put sandbags over it.
"Loads of people were stood around not knowing what was happening."
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