Package deemed 'not suspicious' after businesses evacuated in Birmingham city centre

A huge evacuation of multiple buildings was ordered in Birmingham city centre after "a suspicious package was received" at a premises in Chamberlain Square.

Emergency services were called to the premises and a massive police cordon was in place near Birmingham Town Hall.

Police have now confirmed the package has been checked and is not suspicious. All cordons have now been lifted.

The building as well as nearby buildings were evacuated and road closures were in place until the EOD arrived to examine the package.

Carl Barton was working with two colleagues on the lifts at One Chamberlain Square when they were told to leave via a tannoy announcement.

He said: "We were told to leave at 10.30am. They didn’t say why, just to get out. We are waiting on the steps outside the Rep Theatre."

Arushi Jain, who works in tax technology at PWC at One Chamberlain Square, said: "I was in the middle of work and the alarm went off and an announcement said ‘we may have to evacuate’.

"We were confused and then after five minutes someone told us to leave.

"We have been outside for 45 mins. We are concerned, we don’t know what’s going on."

Reports suggest buses have been halted around parts of Birmingham city centre this morning following a huge evacuation of multiple buildings.