Manchester United 'first' to appoint counter-terror chief

Players observe a minute of applause in honour of former England manager Graham Taylor who died earlier this week, ahead of the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on January 15, 2017. PHOTO | OLI SCARFF |

What you need to know:

  • In another breach two audacious United fans on a tour of Old Trafford last November hid in the loos hoping to be able then to gain access to their game with Arsenal.
  • Their hopes were dashed as they were discovered and handed over to police.

LONDON

Manchester United have appointed a counter-terrorism manager and believe they are the first Premier League club to do so, reports said on Wednesday.

The English football giants, who suffered two embarrassing security blunders in recent months, appointed an unnamed former member of the Manchester police and made the announcement at a fans' forum recently, the BBC and other British media said.

Old Trafford is now subject to some of the most stringent security measures on match days with spectators searched at the turnstiles and cars also undergoing checks when they want to enter the car park.

It comes after last May's Premier League match with Bournemouth saw spectators evacuated from Old Trafford when a suspect package was discovered in a toilet.

The package proved to be harmless and had been placed there — and then forgotten about — by a security firm during a training exercise. The match had to be played at a later date.

In another breach two audacious United fans on a tour of Old Trafford last November hid in the loos hoping to be able then to gain access to their game with Arsenal.

Their hopes were dashed as they were discovered and handed over to police.