Bomb squad blows up package at police station

A 44-year-old man is in custody after the army bomb squad was called in yesterday to blow up a suspicious package left in the foyer of Wellington Central police station.

A series of controlled explosions was carried out at the police station after a man reportedly made threats, and left a suspicious package in the foyer.

A loud bang was heard at 4.16pm when the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team made the first controlled explosion. A second explosion happened at 4.26, and a third one at 4.45pm.

Police said earlier that they were responding to an incident at the police station in Victoria St, which had been evacuated along with surrounding buildings.

It is understood a member of the public entered Wellington Central police station, made a verbal threat, and presented a briefcase or similar object.

The army team’s specialist van was brought in and parked on Harris St, near the police station’s vehicle entrance, and a robot was brought out to detonate the package.

A bomb disposal team member was seen putting on his green protective gear at 4.56pm, with four police officers nearby. He emerged from the police station five minutes later and removed his protective gear. By 5.10pm, the robot was being packed up.

Harris St was reopened about 5.15pm.

The cordons at the busy intersection of Victoria and Willeston streets were lifted at 5.19pm.

Police on the scene would not say whether they had anyone in custody over the incident.