Controlled explosion at French Open

Security forces today carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect briefcase left unattended at Roland Garros.

Security forces today carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect briefcase left unattended at Roland Garros.

The black briefcase and a jacket were left on Court One during the third round match between Spain's Carlos Moya and Argentina's Guillermo Canas.

The court was calmly evacuated with Moya leading 1-0 in the third set, Canas having won the second on a tie-break to level the match.

After a delay or around 35 minutes, a bomb disposal expert then examined the briefcase before retreating down a nearby concrete stairwell. A whistle was then sounded before the package was blown up.

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Herve Ducreil, executive director of Roland Garros, said: "It was just luggage that was left unattended but we did not want to take any risks.

"We evacuated the court and destroyed the luggage. It is good to know that the security forces can do their job very easily.

"It is just annoying for the owner of the luggage because obviously there was nothing dangerous inside."

Specatators and officials soon began to return to the court for the resumption of the match, with the winner facing top seed and world number one Lleyton Hewitt in the fourth round.

PA