Some 20,000 people were evacuated from the central English city of Birmingham overnight Saturday in response to a "credible threat" which no longer exists, police said.
The evacuation came amid heightened tensions in Britain since the Thursday morning rush hour bombings on London's transport system in which at least 50 people were killed and some 700 injured.
Police early yesterday lifted a cordon around the city center, including the nightlife hub, after bomb disposal squad officers carried out four controlled explosions on a bus before ruling a second suspect package harmless.
PHOTO: EPA
Paul Scott-Lee, chief constable for the West Midlands Police, told reporters yesterday that police had acted on a "credible threat" received by intelligence services that "was specific about the time and also the locations."
But Scott-Lee would not elaborate on the nature of the threat.
He put the threat in the context of the broader global climate on terrorism, saying it was unrelated to the suspicious packages which were found and turned out to be harmless.
"It was not a false threat. It was a serious threat. The intelligence indicated that the people of Birmingham were in danger last night. And we responded to make sure that the people were taken out of the danger area," he said.
He added that the suspect packages, including one with wires coming out, were not deposited as a hoax.
Asked if there was still a credible threat, he replied: "As we've carried out our operation, I can say that that particular threat has gone away."
"But I come back to what I said right at the beginning, given the world state and terrorism as it is, threats will remain but that one has been dealt with," he said.
The second package, a box with wires coming out and a switch on top, was found in a hotel in the Broad Street entertainment quarter.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist