UPDATE: ARU Evacuated After Bomb Scare

UPDATE:

Police have confirmed that a 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the suspicious package and is being questioned.

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A bomb scare at Wellington House today caused the evacuation of Anglia Ruskin University and surrounding buildings. Police have confirmed that the device which caused the scare “has now been made safe.”

An RAF bomb disposal unit (pictured) is believed to have carried out a controlled explosion

Police at the scene told The Tab that a ‘suspicious device’ was found. Members of the public reported that it was found in a microwave.

Emergency services were called at 1.15pm and evacuated the surrounding area, which includes some of the Cambridge campus of Anglia Ruskin University, containing faculty buildings and student accommodation.

A bomb disposal unit from the RAF then arrived, and is believed to have carried out a “controlled explosion” on the device.

A police spokesman said: “A cordon and evacuation were put into place to ensure public safety. Investigations remain ongoing as to the exact nature of the device, which has now been made safe.”

A police line diverted traffic and prevented access to ARU

ARU staff and students, as well as workers in surrounding buildings, were evacuated from buildings most at risk, while some were told to: “stay indoors and away from windows.”

Though most University of Cambridge students have yet to return, Anglia Ruskin are in their second week of term.

Emergency vehicles were out in force

The incident caused significant disruption. Crowds of people were gathered at the police line, and road closures severely disrupted traffic. Roads were only reopened at 7.25pm.

A local resident told Cambridge First “I’ve lived in Cambridge all my life and I have never seen anything quite as serious as this.”

A spokesman for MWB Business Exchange said: “We have been working very closely with Cambridgeshire Police after the discovery of a suspicious device in our Wellington House Office. We will continue to assist the police with their enquiries as it is an ongoing investigation.”