Posted: Tue 29th May 2012

Bomb Scare At Wrexham Guildhall

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

This was a breaking story, latest updates are at the bottom of this article.

Less than 24 hours before the Olympic Torch is due to visit there has been a bomb scare at Wrexham Guildhall.

Police had cordoned off all routes leading through Llwyn Isaf, with blue police tape fluttering across Queens Square and up past Wrexham Library which is also closed.

There are currently lots of police and PCSO’s around, with a fire engine behind the offices on Lambpit St. The PCSO’s told us “something was going on” when we asked.

Bomb disposal squads rushed to the scene as police evacuated council staff from the building shortly before 10.30am with the whole of Llwyn Isaf cordoned off.

Crowds of concerned staff and onlookers are currently gathered outside whilst fire crews check the building.

A Wrexham Council spokesperson confirmed that a bomb scare had taken place.

UPDATE 11:30 : North Wales Police have just told us “we were called at 10:12am to reports of suspicious circumstances at Wrexham Guildhall. The incident is still in the investigative stage, but we will confirm more as we have it”.

UPDATE: 11:55 Unconfirmed reports are coming in that the incident was triggered by a briefcase left by a man inside the building. A bomb disposal robot is believed to be checking the object as we speak.

UPDATE 12:30 : Cordons are still in place, and the library carpark is slowly being cleared. Perhaps most significantly the Shoppa Hoppa bus is having to take an alternative route!

UPDATE 12:40 Police cordons are being removed at Queens Square suggesting that the incident may have come to a close. Vehicles are also being allowed into the library car park which was closed off.

UPDATE 1pm We have had the following statement from North Wales Police: ” At about 10.12am this morning North Wales Police were called to the Guild Hall in Wrexham as the result of a man seen acting suspiciously. As a precautionary measure the Guild Hall and near by Library were evacuated. A number of officers attended and a short time later a local man in his 50s was detained and arrested for possession of an imitation firearm and offensive weapon. A package left by man at the Guild Hall was later recovered and examined by officers from EOD (Explosives Ordnance Disposal) and found to be harmless. Local Inspector Alan Hughes who controlled the Police response at the scene said. “A local man has been arrested and will be interviewed later today. Working with our partners within the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance we were able to ensure the evacuation and cordoning off of the building safely and efficiently. I’d like to thank the local community for their cooperation and patience. No one was injured as a result of this mornings events and the area quickly returned to normality. ”

UPDATE 7pm Further to our earlier updates we have received more information regarding this morning’s incident. It is understood that a man entered the main reception of the Guildhall at around 10am this morning and mentioned something regarding tomorrow’s torch relay before leaving and entering one of the committee rooms, where it is believed the package was found. There are also unconfirmed reports that the suspect was carrying a knife in a rucksack.

Crowds gather at the police cordon



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