Bomb scare in Church Stretton
Monday 18th July 2011, 11:59AM BST.
A Shropshire high street was sealed off today after a rucksack was found lying outside a bank. The branch of HSBC in Church Stretton was later reopened after the owner came back to claim the bag.
The rucksack was accidentally left outside HSBC in High Street, Church Stretton at around 10am, sparking a police and bomb squad operation.
The bank was evacuated and parts of the High Street cordoned off as police and fire crews awaited experts from the Explosion Ordnance Disposal team.
But Richard Ewels, West Mercia Police spokesman, said the owner came forward just after 11am.
He said: “We had a rucksack found outside HSBC in High Street Church Stretton and had to treat it as a suspect package.
“We had to cordon off a part of the street and close the bank, evacuating staff and customers while awaiting EOD experts.
“However, as we were awaiting their arrival the owner of the rucksack said he had placed it there and walked off by mistake, only realising some time later.
“Owner and rucksack have been reunited and the bank and street are now open and running as usual.
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Church Stretton? Im sure the Disposal team were chuffed to bits to find a map, some cheese and pickle sandwiches, some thermal socks, and some quavers.
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Exactly my thoughts!!
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The Politics of Fear. They’ve herded us into this paranoid state…but do we want to live here?
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Bit over the top even in the current climate.
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its EXPLOSIVE Ordnance Disposal (EOD). Get it right please.
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