M6 police operation over

The terror alert which closed the M6 toll today was caused by a "health improvement aid for smokers", police said. Armed officers responded to a security alert from a concerned member of the public on board a coach travelling from Preston to London.

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Anti-terror alert on M6 'terrifying'

Coach passengers who found themselves embroiled in a terror alert caused by an electronic cigarette spoke of their ordeal after finally reaching London's Victoria Coach Station.

Daybreak speaks to Lindsey Parker and Vermilion Von Kangur, who were travelling on the Megabus when armed officers, troops, firefighters and bomb disposal experts surrounded the coach at the M6 Toll near Litchfield.

Coach passengers discuss M6 incident

Coach passengers who found themselves embroiled in a terror alert caused by an electronic cigarette spoke of their ordeal after finally reaching London's Victoria Coach Station.

Lindsey Parker and Vermilion Von Kangur were travelling on the Megabus when armed officers, troops, firefighters and bomb disposal experts surrounded the coach at the M6 Toll near Litchfield.

Parker and Von Kangur said armed officers surrounded the vehicle and told them to exit in single file with their hands in the air.

After evacuating the Megabus, all the passengers were frisked, searched by sniffer dogs and sent to a "secluded area," before eventually boarding a different coach to continue their journey.

Though the incident turned out to be nothing more than a false alarm, Parker said the officers told her, "At least they got good training from it for the future in case anything else happens."

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Coach passengers speak of terror after M6 incident

Passengers arriving at London's Victoria Coach Station spoke of their terror after armed police descended on the bus they were travelling in during a terror alert at the M6 Toll near Litchfield.

Student Vermilion Von Kangur, 20, said the Megabus passengers were told to leave the vehicle one by one with their hands clearly visible as armed police waited outside with their guns at the ready.

I was scared. I thought there might have been a bomb on the bus.

My legs were like jelly, I couldn't walk. I felt very intimidated. I thought if I moved I would get shot.

People thought they were going to die. They were calling their families.

People didn't know what was going on so we only had to use our imaginations and picture the worst.

– Vermilion Von Kangur

M6 toll reopens after terror alert

The coach is escorted away from the scene on the M6 toll motorway near Weeford, Staffordshire Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

Police have advised that the coach has been moved and the M6 toll near Weeford in Staffordshire has been reopened following a terror alert that was resolved peacefully.

Passengers were moved onto another bus and their property returned. Police say they are liaising with the coach company, Megabus, to ensure passengers' welfare, including their onward journeys, is catered for.

Police: Coach incident resolved 'peacefully without event'

Police have confirmed that the incident on the M6 was resolved "peacefully without event".

A force spokeswoman said officers responded "to a genuine report from a member of the public" and advised the public to remain vigilant.

Given the credibility of the information we received, we responded swiftly and proportionately. We can now confirm that, whilst this was a genuine security alert, the significant concerns reported to us were unfounded. It's important to state that no criminal offence has been committed and no passenger or any other member of the public is being treated as a suspect.

– STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE SPOKESWOMAN

'Vapour escaping from a bag' turns out to be health aid

The terror alert which closed the M6 toll today was caused by a "health improvement aid for smokers", police said.

The information received concerned a report of vapour escaping from a bag which on investigation turned out to be a health improvement aid for smokers

– Staffordshire Police spokeswoman

Armed officers responded to a genuine security alert from a concerned member of the public on board the coach travelling from Preston to London, Staffordshire Police said.

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Passengers 'safe and well' after M6 incident

A spokeswoman for Megabus, which is operated by Stagecoach, said all passengers were safe and well.

"We are assisting police with their inquiries into an allegation made against a passenger who was travelling on the 5.10sm Preston to London service," she said.

"There were 48 people booked to travel on board the service, which was due to arrive at Victoria Coach Station in London at 10.55am.The service is stopped at the M6 toll plaza.

"Police have confirmed that all passengers are safe and well and they have been transferred to a substitute vehicle. We are making arrangements to provide onward travel for passengers as soon as we receive clearance from the police."

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