Bomb scare causes traffic chaos

Nicola Dowling

July 13, 2005

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CLOSED: The Mancunian Way

A BOMB scare caused massive disruption to motorists today after a main route in and out of Manchester was closed.

Police and a bomb disposal squad were called just before the rush hour when security guards saw an abandoned suitcase in a car park on Oxford Road under the M57 Mancunian Way flyover.

Nearby Manchester Metropolitan University was evacuated as a precaution.

The short stretch of motorway goes from London Road near Piccadilly Station to the Chester Road roundabout and Regent Road, Salford.

It was closed shortly after 7am between the Cambridge Street roundabout in Hulme and Ashton Old Road.

Oxford Road was closed between Grosvenor Street and Whitworth Street.

Congestion

After a controlled explosion by bomb experts at 10.22am, it took some time for the congestion to clear because queues stretched back for miles.

At the Piccadilly station end of the motorway, police reported standing traffic as far back as the City of Manchester Stadium.

Oxford Road was also extremely busy with traffic trying to get into the city centre.

Among those facing delays were United Utilities engineers trying to get to Salford to fix a burst which left scores of homes near to Salford Cathedral off Salford Crescent without water during the scorching heat this morning.

Before the controlled explosion today police said they did not think the suitcase posed "a specific threat" but that it was being treated with caution in light of the bombings in London.

Were police right to close the Mancunian Way? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

David, Manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:03)

I would just like to say a big thanks to the police, bomb squads, security for doing there job this morning, and taking care of us.

P Meier, Manchester Metropolitan University (13/07/2005 at 12:06)

Although highly disruptive, I think the only possible action in such an event is to close surrounding areas. Just imagine something happened and later people realised that the police had not acted on information in order not to inconvenience us.

Rob, Chorlton (13/07/2005 at 12:07)

Well I had to walk a mile to work and was late for a meeting with someone. So I would like to thank the police for ruining my morning.

Helen, City Centre (13/07/2005 at 12:10)

Of course they were right to close the Mancunian Way. With everything going on at the moment it is better safe than sorry.

Hureena, Chorlton (13/07/2005 at 12:13)

Rob, I've found your comments totally insensitive and I think you should be ashamed of yourself!

Claire, Manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:14)

How on earth can people complain about being late for work etc? I think that we should be congratulating the police and emergency services that everything was dealt with and no one came to any harm.
Its the people that plant these bombs that intend to cause the harm. Perhaps people need to remember that we all should stand together at times like this.

snowy, manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:19)

Well Rob, Chorlton imagine if they hadn't done anything and it was a legitimate bomb - your day would have been spoilt wouldn't it?! You may not have even been here tomorrow like the poor people affected by the bombs in London. Maybe you should think of those people before thinking that your day has been spoilt by a bit of disruption.

Anon, Manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:19)

Inlight of the bombings in London it is every citizens duty to be aware of any packages of any description and report this to the Police. The Police have done what is only right taking into account the safety of all Manchester residents. Those who oppose such actions should reflect upon what has happened in the UK and USA. We should be thankful and grateful that our Police throughtout England can provide such a service.

Peter, Kingsway (13/07/2005 at 12:20)

So Rob of chorlton, you would rather the police chanced it then you could have thanked any terrorists for ruining you life not just your morning, think about what your saying and dont be so selfish

john, west gorton (13/07/2005 at 12:24)

Well rob, had they not closed the mancy way, you could have been in a meeting with your maker. i cant believe how selfish some people are, the police and forces try their best to look after us and people like you are worried that they were late for a meeting. Grow Up.

Annette, Stockport (13/07/2005 at 12:27)

Rob - where have you been since 7 July? You were lucky - at least you made your meeting ...

Lee Thompson, City Centre (13/07/2005 at 12:28)

I would just like to say thank you, i would rather be late for work or a meeting than not get there atal because the police did nothing because it would inconvience us than be in a hospital with a leg missing or worse.

Joanne, Manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:30)

To comment on Robs views......

What you rather, have to walk to work or have your legs blown off so that you couldn't walk!!!!!

I've never heard such a ridiculous selfish statement in my life!!

The Police are doign what theyare paid for and protecting the general public.
If that involves you being late for work......Then thats tough!!

At least you got to work unlike the poor people caught up in the London bombings

julie, manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:31)

Yes. We have slipped in our vigilance, remember when the IRA were active? We all reported unaccompanied luggage and bags.

J Roberts, Hyde (13/07/2005 at 12:33)

In the light of what has happened in the last few days, everyone must be extra vigilent. The police were right to close the Mancunian way. Any abandoned bag must be treated as suspicious however trivial it may seem at the time.

Darren, Hyde (13/07/2005 at 12:33)

Rob, Chorlton, surely it is better for you to be late for a meeting than the police doing nothing and if it is a bomb, it explodes? What would your family say if the police had done nothing, you had been walking past and it exploded killing you?
The police would have been blamed Im sure.
Well done the police

Joanne, Manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:39)

To comment on Robs statement......

So you had to walk to work...So you missed a meeting......So what?!?

At least you are in a position where you can go to work and live your life, unlike the poor people who got caught in last weeks bombings in London.

I've never heard such a ridiculous selfish childish statement in my life.

You should be ashamed of yourself!!!!!!!

julie, manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:42)

Of course the police did the right thing especially with everythjng thats happening at the moment but what makes me sick is the stupid comment made by the chorlton guy well im sorry but would'nt he rather be late for a meeting than be dead like them poor people in london come on mate the police did what was right .

Helen, Cheetwood, Manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:42)

I can't believe the selfishness of Rob from Chorlton. What's the hardship in walking a mile - most people walk more than that each day to work.
With everything's that gone on the police can only be cautious - blame the people who leave their bags unattended!
Think of those people in London, did they moan about walking miles home? No, because they were alive.
Just hope you're never in a real emergency situation Rob.

Kyla, Manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:42)

Rob, I think your comment is grossly insensitive. If only the police had got a jump on the bombers last Thursday, many innocent lives would have been saved. The whole country's going to be jumpy for a while, if not for a very long time, and given that these b*st*rds are likely to strike again, it's far better to err on the side of caution. I'd rather a little inconvenience that be blown to bits, or worse lose someone I love, just because the emergency forces don't want to make people late for work.

Joanne, Swinton (13/07/2005 at 12:42)

Rob from Chorlton. Are you for real. At least you are alive. 50 people lost there lives in London. Was your meeting worth being killed for. Get real.

Chris, Burnage (13/07/2005 at 12:44)

I travel on the Manc Way everyday, the police were right to close off the area. Could you imagine the outrage if they had not and a bomb had gone off. I can not believe people are complaining about being late for a meeting.They desperately need to get a grip on their priorities.

MAUREEN, MANCHESTER (13/07/2005 at 12:45)

WELL ROB OF CHORLTON AT LEAST YOU COULD WALK TO WORK AND WERE LATE FOR A MEETING. HOW MANY OF THE LONDON BOMB VICTIMS WOULD HAVE LIKED TO BE IN THAT POSOTION.

WAKE UP YOU SELFISH MAN.

Peter Marcury, Manchester (13/07/2005 at 12:51)

I think the Police did the right think at the end of all its better late than never.Thanks to all the officers involved in this and keep it up."To protect and to serve".

Greg, Hale (13/07/2005 at 12:52)

I think this is a case of the police taking it too far. There are lots of abondoned items all over so does this mean the police will have to do the same for this.
I think that a potential bomb would be concealed alot more than being on show and looking so obvious.

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