Just hours after the terror attack in Manchester which claimed the lives of 22 people, panic struck one of the city’s most popular shopping areas.
Tuesday morning saw the death toll from a suspected terror attack on the Manchester Arena, where an Ariana Grande concert had just come to an end, rise to 22.
A further 59 people were reported injured in the attack, which has been described as “the most horrific incident we have had to face in Greater Manchester,” by Chief constable Ian Hopkins.
Several outlets reported that Manchester’s Arndale Centre had been evacuated amid an ongoing incident just after 11am.
BREAKING: Manchester's Arndale shopping center evacuated – Reuters photographer pic.twitter.com/1rrpRMCcTT
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 23, 2017
Footage emerged of sniffer dogs and armed police arriving on the scene after throngs of shoppers ran from the centre.
https://twitter.com/dobsonMEN/status/866962470216314881
Police pushing crowd back by Manchester Arndale centre, some running, some in tears pic.twitter.com/4wYbwzdm8E
— Dan Johnson (@DanJohnsonNews) May 23, 2017
A male was led away from the centre by police but the incident was since declared a false alarm, according to Sky News.
https://twitter.com/MotherLeopard92/status/866959220066979840
The city is understandably on high alert after Monday night’s horrific attacks and members of the public are being advised to remain vigilant.
The Arndale evacuation is UNCONNECTED to the Manchester terror attack but there have been other arrests across Manchester.
— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) May 23, 2017
Police say it's a false alarm sparked by someone panicking unnecessarily. Outbreaks like this often happen in wake of a terror attack.
— Andy Hughes (@SkyAndyHughes) May 23, 2017
