M1 motorway closure: no explosive element found in suspicious package

The M1 has been closed in both directions for more than eight hours after a suspicious object was found under a motorway bridge during Tuesday morning’s rush hour.

A special tool to cut through motorway barriers was eventually brought in to allow trapped motorists to U-turn and travel back down the motorway.

The bomb squad was called out as the police investigated the package between junctions 15 and 14. Diversions were put in place in both Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire.

“Investigation by the EOD [explosive ordnance disposal] can confirm that there is no explosive element to the object found,” said Thames Valley police in a statement, almost seven hours after it was reported. Investigators are continuing a chemical analysis of the object to determine its make-up.

One Twitter user described the item as “a black bag smoking and oozing yellow stuff under bridge”.

The UK terror threat level was reduced from critical to severe on Sunday after the Parsons Green attack last week.

Thousands of motorists were stuck in immobile traffic. On Twitter, Highways England said the “closures remain due to ongoing police-led incident-trapped traffic being released by being turned round – this will take time”.

Traffic on the northbound side of the motorway was being cleared through Newport Pagnell services, while southbound traffic was being turned around.

A Highways England spokesman said the incident was likely to take several hours to resolve, with 3 to 4 km of traffic trapped at a standstill and long delays elsewhere.

The package was found at about 7.30am. A journalist from BBC Look East filmed the arrival of the bomb disposal unit.

The former England cricketer James Taylor, who was stuck in the tailback, posted a video of a man skateboarding along the deserted motorway.

Other stranded motorists were photographed playing frisbee and football.

Other people were filmed walking down the hard shoulder, carrying suitcases.

After waiting for seven hours, one Twitter user started to search for cooking inspiration.

And other people started sharing food and drink.

While some faced more complications.

A spokesman for Thames Valley police said: “The road closures are likely to be in place for some time while Thames Valley police and the fire service investigate the matter.”