Terror: Arrest At Birmingham Station

9:17pm UK, Friday July 22, 2005

A man has been arrested under the Terrorism Act at a railway station in Birmingham.

Snow Hill station was evacuated as bomb disposal officers dealt with two suit cases the suspect was carrying.

Police at Snow Hill

Buses have been diverted, train and tram services through the station have been suspended as British Transport Police cordoned off the area.

The male was detained under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, police said.

West Midlands Police said later in a statement: "Snow Hill station has been evacuated and cordoned off.

"One man has been detained under section 44 of the Terrorism Act. Two suitcases at the train station are being investigated by the army bomb squad."

A small group of people, many of them waiting to get back to cars parked in the streets behind the station and in its car park, were gathered outside the entrance to Snow Hill.

Inspector Phil Milton, from British Transport Police, told reporters later that the packages were not found to be suspicious.

"The bomb disposal team have been and checked and found it to be safe," he said.

Asked how the incident came to light, he revealed that the alarm was raised by an off-duty officer who saw a man and believed his behaviour to be suspect.

Asked if the arrest was connected to the London bombings, the officer added: "as far as I know its wholly unconnected."

The station re-opened to the public at 8.15pm.