26 Mar 2014

Bomb scare at Miami tennis tournament

3:59 pm on 26 March 2014

The Sony Open in Miami was locked down while the bomb squad investigated a suspicious package, preventing thousands of spectators from entering or leaving the tennis complex.

Tournament organisers said in a statement that a suspicious package was left unattended at the front gate.

As world number one Serena Williams was playing fifth-seeded German Angelique in a quarter-final on centre court, word began to filter through the complex that people were not being allowed to exit the facility.

Security has been increased at major North American sporting events since last year's Boston Marathon bombings left three people dead and wounded 264.