'Man seized' after army bomb disposal experts sent to Manchester college

A man has been detained by police officers during a raid on a block of flats in an area of south-west Manchester.

It came shortly after an army bomb disposal team was sent to the scene and several roads were closed, including Linby Street and Jackson Street.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the area “has now been deemed safe and the cordon has been removed. They apologised for the “confusion”.

According to the Guardian, an eyewitness said: “The police came out, surrounding a man. He had his hands on his head.”

Police had sealed off the area of south-west Manchester and dispatched army bomb disposal experts to the campus.

Multiple police units were sent to the area, which is centred around Castlefield Campus on Lindy Street.

A student from another college to the south of the scene where the army unit was sent, was one of many to post pictures and video on Twitter showing a plume of smoke.

Police had warned people to stay away from the area.

Video posted on social media also showed officers cordoning off Chorlton Road in south-west Manchester.

Police have also clarified earlier reports that said police had been sent to a college in Trafford.

It is not known at the moment whether the incident is related to the bombing at the Manchester Arena in which 22 people died on Monday.

Read more: Here are the victims of the Manchester bombing

The army was deployed shortly before a minute’s silence was observed around the country.

And it came as Theresa May said the threat level “will remain at critical and the public should remain vigilant”.

Read more about the latest developments related to the Manchester bombing here