Brighton Pride: Police investigate 'deliberate' bomb scare which halted LGBT parade

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Brighton's annual LGBT pride was interrupted yesterday, when Sussex police officers were called to deal with a "suspect package", although it turned out to be a false alarm.

The parade had to be rerouted, whilst bomb disposal experts were called to the site, who after a series of tests carried out a controlled explosion on the object.

Sussex Police have now confirmed that they are launching a criminal investigation into the incident, believing that the bomb scare was caused "deliberately."

"We believe the item was placed there deliberately and made to look like a suspicious device to disrupt the parade," said Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp. "We have started a criminal investigation."

"We were concerned enough to call in the bomb disposal unit, who after making a further assessment, carried out a controlled explosion. The area had been cordoned off and there was no risk to the public."

The Parade, which was delayed by an hour and a half due to the emergency, was attended by up to 160,000 people on Saturday, and otherwise passed off without any major incidents. The two-day festival is widely acknowledged as the country's most popular LGBT event.