Manchester United-Bournemouth Match Called Off Due To Security Concerns

Manchester United's home game against Bournemouth in the Premier League has been abandoned after a suspect package was found inside Old Trafford stadium.

Greater Manchester police said military bomb disposal unit has been dispatched to Manchester United's stadium to help police after the discovery of a suspicious item in the stands.

They added that a bomb disposal unit carried out a controlled explosion at Old Trafford stadium. The controlled blast came soon after British military bomb disposal experts arrived at Manchester United's stadium.

Two stands inside Old Trafford - The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and the Stretford End - were evacuated about 30 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time of 3 p.m. local time (1400 GMT), with United saying "a suspect package was found in the North West Quadrant."

Announcements were made on the public address system that security staff should invoke "operation red code". Fans in other stands initially had been allowed to stay inside the stadium.

Police are asking people to "avoid the area if possible."

The moment it was announced at Old Trafford that the match had been abandoned pic.twitter.com/tnMsOxFXbR

- Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) 15 May 2016

The rest of the Premier League games being played on Sunday, the final day of the season, went ahead as scheduled. Manchester United announced it on their official Twitter handle

Due to the discovery of a suspect package in the NW Quadrant of the ground, the match has been abandoned today on police advice. #mufc

- Manchester United (@ManUtd) 15 May 2016

British broadcaster Sky Sports said the stands were evacuated because of a suspect package.

Fans in The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and the Stretford End were evacuated about 30 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time of 3 p.m. local time (1400 GMT). Fans in other stands were allowed to stay inside the stadium.

In a statement released, the Premier League said that it would seek to rearrange the fixture "as soon as practically possible".

"When it comes to matters of security it is obviously right that Manchester United and the Premier League place the safety of supporters and employees foremost. It is always the last resort to abandon one of our fixtures", the statement read.

It is the second time in less than a week that Manchester United have been involved in a security alert. Their game at West Ham United on Monday was delayed after their team bus was attacked by fans.