Rio Olympics 2016: Controlled explosion carried out on suspicious package at basketball arena in yet another Games scare
FANS missed the start of the men’s Olympic basketball clash between Nigeria and Spain after an unattended backpack led to a controlled explosion being carried out.
Television images showed players tipping off against a backdrop of empty seats after security held back crowds from entering the arena.
Security services arrive at the scene of the scare
The backpack was carried away by a robot and detonated, a spokesman for Rio 2016 confirmed. Detonating unattended bags has been common this Games amid concerns over security at South America’s first Olympics.
A security agent said the backpack was discovered after the Brazil-Croatia game.
A tablet computer, some socks and a jacket were found inside the backpack following the detonation. The public were allowed into the arena immediately afterwards, a spokesman said.
Fans were forced to wait outside and miss the start of the action indoorsA fire engine arrives outside the arena where the scare occurred
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The security threat happened as Spain took on Nigeria in men’s basketball
Security has been an issue since the Games began last week.
Swedish tourists were briefly abducted when they visited a slum, Portugal’s visiting education minister was robbed at knifepoint, bullets flew into the equestrian centre and a Games bus was attacked with stones.
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