BIRMINGHAM TERROR THREAT

SKY News is reporting at this hour...

Thousands of people are being evacuated from Birmingham city centre after police issued a terror warning.

Bomb squad officers have reportedly carried out a series of controlled explosions in the Broad Street entertainment district.


West Midlands Police said no vehicles are being allowed past the inner ring road.

Around 200 bars, restaurants and clubs are being emptied and searched

A spokeswoman said: "West Midlands Police are issuing a public warning to people after they received intelligence to suggest a threat to the city centre.

"Our response needs to be proportionate in the actions we are taking and informing the public.

"We are not closing bars, restaurants or clubs but we are asking for them to be searched and for people entering the premises to be searched."

Outlining details of the road closures, the spokeswoman continued: "There will be a higher police presence in the city centre and access by vehicles will be limited.

"No vehicles will be allowed past the inner ring road into the city centre."

Allan Sartori, a Birmingham club owner, said police appeared to have the situation under control in the city centre.

He said evacuating the city centre would have cost "a lot of people a lot of money".

But he added: "People's lives are far more important than money in a situation like this."

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