Police make arrest after threats made at multiple locations

Monday, 30 September 2019

Police have cleared a number of scenes in Hutt Valley and Central Wellington where bombs threats were made. 

One person has been arrested in relation to making threats, some of which were were directed towards Corrections staff. 

Police responded to four separate scenes - Parliament, Adelaide Rd, Market Grove in Lower Hutt and an address in Taita. 

Threats had been made to Corrections staff in Lower Hutt, while police had also searched a car outside the probation office on Adelaide Rd. 

Parliament was also 'cleared', along with an address in Taita. 

The normally-busy Adelaide Rd was completely shut south of Basin Reserve, with the cordon extended after sniffer dogs were brought in. 

Attention was focused on two cars parked nearby. The road was reopened a short time later. 

Ann Boyle, who works on Adelaide Rd, said she saw six or seven police cars arrive and evacuate people from the BP service station.

Police paid special attention to a white station wagon outside the BP and looked underneath it.

Police had descended on the address which houses the probation service in Market Grove earlier on Monday afternoon. 

Just after 3.15, police left the scene and people returned to the building.

Police left the Taita address a short time later. 

A Corrections spokesperson said the organisation was working with police in relation to the incident.  

'We take threats to the operation and security of our facilities extremely seriously and have detailed protocols for dealing with incidents of this nature.' 

Another item of concern was found on Monday afternoon near Circa Theatre, but was not related to the other incidents. 

The item was examined and found not be of concern.