BOMB disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion in Durham City this morning on a suspicious package which turned out to be a suitcase packed with CDs and DVDs.
An Army team from Catterick Garrison used a bomb disposal robot to deal with the abandoned suitcase found in Old Elvet – carrying out two controlled explosions in the space of five minutes.
It was found outside Old Shire Hall, the former headquarters of Durham University, just after 9.30am and police quickly sealed off the area, with staff and customers at a number of buildings evacuated as a precaution.
A cordon, which extended along Old Elvet between the Dun Cow pub and the Durham Marriott Royal County Hotel and beyond the New Elvet traffic light junction towards the Swan and Three Cygnets pub, was lifted at about 1.15pm.
Inspector Steve Long said: “This morning at around 9.30am one of my officers was dealing with a separate incident in Old Elvet - it was a report of a burglary.
“As he has come away from that incident he’s noticed a suitcase across the street outside the Old Shire Hall.
“But clearly, given the circumstances earlier this morning in Belgian Brussels, we called it a serious incident to start with and made a quick assessment.
“After some quick inquiries with the surrounding businesses and hotel we couldn’t establish who owned the suitcase so we contacted Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) in Catterick Garrison and they have attended.
“They have carried out two controlled explosions. Thankfully it is nothing suspicious. It appears it is a suitcase packed with DVDs and CDs.
“We’ll make some inquiries now to establish who the suitcase belongs to – but thankfully it is what it is – it’s a suitcase.
A crowd of up to 200 people watched the incident unfold from the safety of Elvet Bridge, behind the police cordon.
Rob Barward-Symmons, who was in the area at the time, said: "I stuck around for five or ten minutes and more cars and officers arrived but there wasn't a sense of urgency or immediacy.
"People were coming out of offices in dribs and drabs, again no panicking or anything. A riot van was parked on a side road nearby, but there was no action at all."
Old Shire Hall is due to be converted into a hotel and restaurant.
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