Armed cops swarmed university after student’s wooden sword sparked panic

Armed police stormed a university building after reports of a person with a sword – which turned out to be a wooden theatre prop.

Six armed response teams were seen arriving outside a Manchester Metropolitan University building around midday today.

Officers carrying guns then went into the building, while a number of police vehicles were parked nearby.

It followed a call from the member of the public saying they had seen a ‘male’ with a sword in the city centre, Manchester Evening News reports.

But Greater Manchester Police have seen revealed that it was a ‘misunderstanding’ and that the person with the suspected weapon was university student leaving a theatre rehearsal with a wooden sword.

Several people gathered in the street to watch the dramatic swoop, which turned out not to be so dramatic after all.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: ‘Armed officers were called to a building on Grosvenor Street this morning after reports were made of a male with a sword in the city centre.

‘After locating the male, officers found the sword to be a wooden prop designed for theatrical purposes.

‘The incident has been stood down.’

The Metro has contacted Manchester Metropolitan University for a comment.

Schoolboy Daniel Anjorin, 14, was killed in a sword attack in Hainault, east London on April 30.

His funeral was held today.

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