Fraud arrest delays medal ceremonies at European Athletics Championships in Birmingham

Medal ceremonies at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham were postponed on Saturday evening after a man was arrested on suspicion of fraud, organisers and West Midlands Police said. Transport at the tournament was suspended and thousands of spectators were unable to leave the venue while security procedures were carried out.

West Midlands Police said concerns were raised after a man was found in an area of Alexander Stadium on Saturday evening without the right accreditation. A West Midlands Police spokesperson said a man in his 30s remained in custody for questioning. Members of the crowd reported being held outside by security staff for more than an hour after the event finished, and there was a large police presence at the scene.

The evening session concluded with Great Britain winning a pair of gold medals in the men's and women's 4x100m relays. The crowd at the Alexander Stadium appeared to be near its 23,000 capacity during the session.

At one point during the session, there was an announcement that the six medal ceremonies, scheduled to take place after the final event between 22:00 and 23:00 BST, were cancelled, understood to be in relation to the police incident. More information relating to the postponed medal ceremonies is due to be released later.

Tournament organisers said transport was suspended while the necessary security measures took place, but operations had returned to normal in the early hours of Sunday. A statement from Birmingham 2026 said: "The safety and wellbeing of our spectators, athletes, workforce and the wider Championships' family will always be our first priority. "We recognise that the delays presented challenges for those affected and would like to thank everyone for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the evening."

People posted on social media reporting "crazy queues" for the shuttle bus and blue flashing lights on the main road outside the stadium. A statement on the event's official account, posted on X at 23:03, said: "We apologise for the significant delays in leaving the Alexander Stadium venue this evening. "Buses and coaches will start to arrive and departures will begin to gradually take place. "We thank you for your patience with this matter. Please listen to the instructions from the safety personnel and marshals who are there to support you."