The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
‘Bomb’ drama sparks chaos in city centre
Police cordoned off a large part of Peterborough city centre and hundreds of workers were evacuated after reports of a suspicious device.
Shoppers looked on anxioulsy and traffic had to be diverted during the bomb scare near the City Market.
Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion and police said the package which had been left in a bin was a harmless electrical device which bleeped but declined to give more details.
A tiny electrical device caused a bomb scare which saw hundreds of workers evacuated and city centre roads cordoned off. The “harmless” device, measuring two inches by one inch, was discovered by a member of the public in a toilet bin at the Market multi-storey in Northminster.
The bleeping device was found at 9.15am on Tuesday and destroyed in a controlled explosion by the bomb squad morethantwohourslater. Police wouldn’t give any further information on what the device was.
Inspector Dominic Glazebrook, the officer in charge of thepolicerepsonse, said: “The device wasfoundtobeanelectrical device whichwasharmless. We are happy that it was a result of somebody disposingofadevicethatwasmaking noise that causedthecall to be made to us.
“The person that made the call acted perfectly properly and we are really grateful to him.”
Apolice cordonwasplaced 100mawayfromwherethedevice was found, including at the endofLongCausewayand next to Ba Shoh on Broadway.
Traffic was backed up on Broadway with cars and buses having to turn around once they approached the cordon.
Northminster and New Road were also cordoned off.
Market staff and workers at several shops, including Tesco and Wilko, were evacuated, while Peterborough City Council closed its Bayard Place offices as a precaution, with staff relocating to the Town Hall.
Stall owners at the market told the Peterborough Telegraph they were frustrated by the lack of trading, especially asit wassoclosetoChristmas.
Some were also frustrated at not being given updates by police after the evacuation.
One visitor from Hull was also inforabitofashockwhen he visited the city’s passport office, which is situated next to the market.
He said an announcement wasmadeinsidetheofficethat a suspected bomb had been found nearby.
Thanking the public for their co-operation, Inspector Glazebrook added: “We apologise for the inconvenience caused while the device was being made safe.”
Four ambulances and two fire engines were situated on Broadwayduringtheincident. Most include DB&B accommodation at resort, excursion programme,
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