'Suspect Package' Stops Manchester United Game

Manchester United's home game against Bournemouth in the Premier League has been abandoned after a suspect package was found inside Old Trafford stadium.

Greater Manchester police said on its Twitter page Sunday that the match had been abandoned. Later, police announced they had carried out a "controlled explosion" on what was described as a realistic-looking "explosive device."

Greater Manchester Police added: "Full assessment now concluded and found device wasn't viable. A full search of the stadium is ongoing."

Two stands inside Old Trafford - The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and the Stretford End - were evacuated about 30 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time of 3 p.m. local time (1400 GMT), with United saying "a suspect package was found in the North West Quadrant."

Fans in other stands initially had been allowed to stay inside the stadium.

Police asked people to "avoid the area if possible."

The rest of the Premier League games being played on Sunday, the final day of the season, went ahead as scheduled.

European officials have been on high alert at sporting events since the November 13 Paris attacks when extremists attempted to blow themselves up inside the stadium at an international friendly between France and Germany. Security guards were able to stop the suicide bombers before they entered the stadium itself.