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| 'Car bomb man' was kidnap victim | 'Car bomb man' was kidnap victim |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man found in a car in Birmingham city centre with his hands tied and canisters attached to his body had been kidnapped, police have revealed. | A man found in a car in Birmingham city centre with his hands tied and canisters attached to his body had been kidnapped, police have revealed. |
| West Midlands said the man had been put in the car and told it contained a bomb. | |
| Chief Supt Tom Coughlan said the man was later safely removed and taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg. | |
| Several homes were evacuated and trains using New Street Station were delayed when a 500m police cordon was set up. | |
| The incident started just before 1030 BST when a lorry driver called the emergency services after spotting the man, described as Asian by police, at the junction of Clarel Avenue and Landor Street, Saltley. | The incident started just before 1030 BST when a lorry driver called the emergency services after spotting the man, described as Asian by police, at the junction of Clarel Avenue and Landor Street, Saltley. |
| His hands were tied and gas canisters were inside the car. | His hands were tied and gas canisters were inside the car. |
| 'Reprehensible' action | |
| An Army bomb disposal team, fire crews and paramedics were called to the scene along with negotiators with West Midlands Police. | An Army bomb disposal team, fire crews and paramedics were called to the scene along with negotiators with West Midlands Police. |
| Mr Coughlan said officers were initially unable to say whether the man was conscious and whether he was there by choice or the victim of crime. | |
| After the man was released Mr Coughlan said police were now treating it as a criminal investigation. | |
| "The man appears at this stage to have been placed in the car against his will possibly with a view to scaring him. | |
| "He has been told there was a bomb in the car with him." | |
| Experts were trying to establish the nature of the device placed in the car, he said. | |
| "This action is reprehensible. It has placed the victim, members of the public and the emergency services at risk," he added. |