On 9 Jul 2005 14:00:42 -0700, "Dan" wrote:


21:06

- Central Birmingham being evacuated ..?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4668313.stm

2104 GMT/2204 BST

Police evacuate Birmingham centre
Police in Birmingham are evacuating large parts of the city centre
amid a security alert.

West Midlands Police said people were being asked to leave the centre,
particularly Broad Street, as a "precautionary measure".

No vehicles are being allowed past the inner ring road into the city
centre, and there have also been reports of controlled explosions by
police.

Police said it was in response to intelligence the force had received.

"It's quite tense," said BBC journalist Toby Brown.

No vehicles are being allowed to be moved, he added.

Birmingham resident Kenneth Kelsall told the BBC: "There is a lot of
confusion, there appears to be no chance of anyone moving back into
the city - but people are remaining quiet."

West Midlands Police announced they had received intelligence of a
possible threat to the area around 2015BST.

Initially people were told to be on their guard and that bars and
restaurants were being searched. Motorists were also told not to come
into the city centre.

Around 2100BST the police announced that the city was to be evacuated.