Bomb scare at Tauranga Police Station

The bomb scare at the Tauranga Police Station ended at about 7.30pm tonight when the Auckland Bomb Squad blew a suspicious looking brief case apart.
The incident began at about 4.30pm this afternoon when a member of the public brought the brief case to the Police Station after he found it on his property in urban Tauranga. The state of the brief case caused Police alarm and the Police Station and neighbouring properties within a 150 metre radius were evacuated. Streets around the Police Station were also cordoned off.
Eight prisoners in custody at the Tauranga Police Station were transferred to the Mount Maunganui Police Station where normal operations were run while the Tauranga Station was closed.
'Police are well aware of the inconvenience this type of incident causes and very much appreciate the patience and co-operation of nearby residents and the motoring public over the 3 hours.'
As enquiries are continuing Police are not prepared to say what was contained in the brief case other than it was not explosive material.

Glenn Saunders
Senior Sergeant
Tauranga

Issued By: Inspector Jacqueline Whittaker