A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of fraud following a security operation at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Saturday night. West Midlands Police confirmed the arrest and stated the man remains in custody for questioning.
The incident led to significant delays for thousands of spectators and dozens of athletes, including Britain’s Amy Hunt, leaving the Alexander Stadium. Buses were not permitted to depart for over an hour as armed police conducted searches.
Athletes, some of whom are competing again on Sunday evening, did not return to their city centre hotels until 12:45 am, having started queuing for buses at 10:15 pm. Spectators also reported long waits and a lack of information during the delays.
Championship transport was suspended until security measures were completed. Birmingham 2026 apologised for the delays, stating that the safety and wellbeing of those attending was their priority.