Electronic cigarette on coach sparks terror alert and shuts M6
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A major terror alert closed the M6 for more than four hours yesterday – only for armed police to discover it was a false alarm caused by a coach passenger using an electronic cigarette.
Bomb disposal experts and counter-terrorism officers were scrambled to the toll road near Lichfield after one a passengers on the Megabus from Preston to London reported seeing vapour coming from a man's bag around 8am. The 48 passengers, including at least one young boy, were led from the coach and walked about 300 yards to a cordoned off area on one of the closed carriageways.
Witnesses described how they came off the coach "one by one holding their arms up" to prove they were not armed. They were then surrounded by officers and searched.
Officers trained in chemical, biological and nuclear attacks were sent to the site but police later confirmed there was no terror threat.
Armed police officers stand guard over passengers, left, from a Preston to London Megabus coach after it stopped, right, and was surrounded by armed police on the M6 motorway near Lichfield in central England REUTERS/Getty
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments