“We believe the item was placed there deliberately and made to look like a suspicious device to disrupt the parade”.
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Expert explosives officers have been called to inspect the discovery on the seafront, part of which has been closed off.
A controlled explosion was carried out by an army bomb squad along Brighton seafront, police said.
The event – one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the country which has attracted performers from Boy George to Paloma Faith – will now travel from Lansdowne Place, along Western Road and then follow its original route from Brighton’s clock tower.
Sussex Police have reassured the thousands who are in the city for the celebrations that “there is no risk to the public” and have asked the public to respect the cordons that are in place.
It is still not clear if the package is risky but the parade has now begun along the new route. It is the largest event held in Brighton, and has featured music from acts including Fatboy Slim and the Human League.
The parade has reached St Peter’s Church area and is continuing on its route to Preston Park, said a spokesman at 3.25pm.
The suspect package has been detonated in a controlled explosion as part of “normal police procedure”.
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Acting chief executive Geoff Raw of Brighton and Hove City Council said: “I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to ensure the Pride Parade was such a success in the face of real adversity”.
