A man with mental health problems sparked a massive security alert when he dialled 999 and told cops he had planted a bomb in Manchester city centre, a court heard.
Thomas Mullett, 45, from Salford, had been drinking when he made the call late on Sunday night April 3, 2022, telling the operator he had planted a device in Spinnigfields.
He told the call handler the device was in the 'number 1 Hardman Square building' before leaving a made-up code word. The code word he left was actually a phrase which was 'Bobby Sands with the IRA and Tiocfaidh ár lá', a slogan in Gaelic associated with Irish Republicanism which translates as 'our day will come'.
The call sparked a major alert which was only called off when Mullett called back and admitted it was a hoax, Manchester Crown Court was told.
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