Birmingham vigil for Manchester attack victims cut short after man detained nearby

A candle-lit vigil in Birmingham for victims of the Manchester concert bombing has been interrupted after a man was detained close to the event, reportedly armed with some form of blade and a baseball bat.

The 39-year-old shouted out as he was handcuffed by officers just 200 yards from where 1,000 people had gathered in the city's main Victoria Square.

A small axe and a large stick were recovered from the scene, West Midlands Police said.

The 39-year-old, who is from Birmingham, is known to police and is thought to have a history of mental ill-health.

He was taken away in a riot van.

Speakers who had been paying tribute to the Manchester victims were interrupted by the man's loud protests from down a side street.

Police, including armed response officers, then cleared the square a short time later.

The evacuation of the square was carried out as a precaution by police, West Midlands chief constable David Thompson, who was attending the vigil in an official capacity, confirmed.

Superintendent Andy Parsons said: "The man was carrying a bag, and as a precaution, Victoria Square where the vigil was being held was cleared for around 15 minutes."