A significant security operation unfolded at the European Athletics Championships on Saturday night, affecting dozens of athletes, including Britain’s Amy Hunt, and thousands of spectators. Armed police conducted searches at the Alexander Stadium, causing buses to remain stationary for over an hour and leaving everyone in uncertainty.

Athletes began queuing for official transport around 10:15 PM but did not reach their team hotels until 12:30 AM. A team official noted, “Fortunately they kept the kitchens open for the athletes.” The West Midlands police reported the arrest of a man in his 30s on suspicion of fraud, which triggered the security measures.

The initial sign of trouble arose when stadium announcers postponed the six medal ceremonies after a capacity crowd of 23,000 witnessed both British 4x100m relay teams claim gold.

Fans, including families with young children and individuals with disabilities, faced long waits, with one spectator, Joanne Ray, recounting her experience of queuing from 9:50 PM but not boarding a bus until 11:15 PM. She described the scene, saying, “They were absolutely frozen. And we were given no information.”

In a statement around 11:03 PM, Birmingham 2026 apologized for the delays and confirmed that transport was halted until security checks were completed. They emphasized the priority of safety for all involved.

As the event continued, Amy Hunt aimed for a historic quadruple of gold medals in the mixed 4x100m relays on Sunday evening. Earlier that day, Finland’s Alisa Vainio set a championship record in the women’s marathon, finishing in 2:22.26, while Germany’s Amanal Petros achieved a new championship record of 2:09:11 in the men’s marathon.