Inquiry call after ex-officer admits `I`m to blame` for fake bomb fiasco at Old Trafford

A private security company run by a former police officer accidentally left a dummy bomb that triggered an evacuation and caused a Premier League match to be postponed is facing calls for a full inquiry.

Greater Manchester`s mayor and police and crime commissioner (MPCC), Tony Lloyd, branded the scare a “fiasco” that had put people in danger.

Bomb disposal experts were called to Manchester`s 75,000-seat stadium at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon (May 15) to carry out a controlled explosion on the “incredibly lifelike” training device that sparked a red alert.

The fake explosive — which looked like a mobile phone attached to a pipe and was spotted by a staff member — was found in a toilet just minutes before Manchester United were due on the pitch, leading to the Barclays game against Bournemouth being postponed.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it had been left by Security Search Management & Solutions Ltd (SSMS). Deacons Canines, from Llandegfan in Anglesey, hired Kent-based SSMS to carry out the sniffer dog training exercises on Wednesday (May 11).

And SSMS managing director Christopher Reid admitted responsibility for the blunder which left one of the world`s most famous football clubs with a bill for refunding fans running into millions of pounds.

The security boss — a retired Metropolitan Police Service officer — signed a document to confirm he had collected 14 items, including the fake pipe bomb, after last week`s drill.

He confused the dummy with another one that was safely inside the bag — and went home leaving it in an executive toilet.

“This mistake is entirely mine. I have to take full responsibility for leaving a training item behind on Wednesday,” Mr Reid said.

“I am absolutely devastated that a lapse in my working protocols has resulted in many people being disappointed, frightened and inconvenienced. Nothing I can say will rectify that,” he added.

“Fortunately, everybody was fine which is the most important thing.”

Fans praised counter-terror police officers and security staff for their response that saw two stands evacuated and the players kept in their dressing rooms.

However, Mr Lloyd said it was “outrageous” the situation had arisen and called for an urgent investigation into “how this happened, why it happened and who will be held accountable.”

The MPCC said: “This fiasco caused massive inconvenience to supporters who had come from far and wide to watch the match, wasted the time of huge numbers of police officers and the army`s bomb squad, and unnecessarily put people in danger, as evacuating tens of thousands of people from a football stadium is not without risk.

“Whilst this in no way demeans the professionalism of the police and stewards responsible for getting the fans out, or the supporters` calmness and cooperation during the evacuation, it is unacceptable that it happened in the first place.”

Ed Woodward, United`s vice-chairman, said the club will “investigate the incident to inform future actions and decisions”.

The evacuation of the Stretford End and Sir Alex Ferguson Stand began around 20 minutes before the scheduled kick-off of 3pm after an announcement was made for security personnel to invoke “operation red code”.

Shortly after 3.15pm those remaining in the stadium were informed the game was called off.

Army bomb disposal experts called in by GMP carried out a controlled explosion on the device in the North West Quadrant of the ground at 4.30pm.

GMP`s Assistant Chief Constable John O`Hare confirmed the item was a “training device which had accidentally been left by a private company following a training exercise involving explosive search dogs”.

“Whilst this item did not turn out to be a viable explosive, on appearance this device was as real as could be, and the decision to evacuate the stadium was the right thing to do, until we could be sure that people were not at risk.”

Mr O`Hare said the decision was “not taken lightly” but done “to ensure the safety of all those attending”.

Mr Lloyd denied his call for