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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Ella Wills

Manchester Piccadilly Gardens cordoned off after 'suspicious package' alert

A huge cordon was in place at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester (Picture: Twitter/Thomas Ogden)

Parts of Manchester city centre have been cordoned off and a man arrested after a suspicious package was found in the area.

Greater Manchester Police blocked off Piccadilly Gardens on Friday, affecting bus and some tram services.

Police said they were keeping "an open mind" over a link with another suspicious device which caused Oldham Library to be evacuated this afternoon.

Officers later said the package found in Piccadilly Gardens was "not believed to be a viable device".

Emergency services at the scene in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester (Twitter/Francis Xavier Sowerby Thomas)

A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with the first package, a spokesman for the force said in a statement.

He added: "A cordon will remain in place until the materials are made safe to move and enquiries have concluded."

Transport services including the Metrolink were affected as a result of the cordon.

Manchester city coucillor Pat Karney claimed on Twitter that the device was "not a threat" and the man arrested had "health issues".

Greater Manchester Police said: "The suspicious package in Piccadilly Gardens is not believed to be a viable device.

"The fire service is currently at the scene to assist with enquiries.

"A cordon will remain in place until the materials are made safe to move and enquiries have concluded.

"The 26-year-old remains in custody for questioning."

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