London: UK police on Thursday closed a major motorway near Birmingham city after an incident involving a passenger traveling on a bus from the northwestern town of Preston to London.
Passengers were told to evacuate the bus by Staffordshire police who included armed officers. Police in Britain are not usually armed when they respond to incidents.
“There is major ongoing police-led incident on M6 toll motorway near Lichfield. Both lanes remained closed off,” the police said.
Megabus confirmed that one of its vehicles was involved, with 48 people booked on the journey.
“We are assisting police with their inquiries into an allegation made against a passenger,” the spokeswoman of the company told CNN.
Footage from the scene shows the bus pulled over on to the hard shoulder, with the passengers sitting in rows on the tarmac where they were questioned by officers.
It is not yet known what caused the alert but the police response appears to have been significant and swift.
Correspondent says fear gripped the people of the adjacent areas following the police operation ahead of London Olympics.
Earlier, Six held in London on charges of terrorism ahead of Olympics
As many as six people, including a woman have been held  for suspicion of terrorism  from different parts of London.
Authorities said that the arrest made during serach operation had nothing to do with London Olympics.
The anti-terrorism command officers arrested the six people under terrorism act 2000 but didn’t disclose their identities.
The authorities said that ages of those held were between 18 to 30 years. The suspects have been shifted to a police station in South East London.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription