Parliament re-opened after bomb scare
UPDATED 4pm- Parliament has been reopened after the bomb squad was called in to investigate a suspicious package.
UPDATED 4pm- The all-clear has been given for people to re-enter the Beehive after a suspicious package was found in Parliament grounds.
The incident prompted a bomb squad robot to be sent in to investigate whether the package was dangerous.
Parliamentary staff have been informed that emergency services have completed their activities and a "much reduced" cordon will remain around the package.
UPDATED 3:30pm- The scheduled detonation to deal with a suspicious package found in the Parliament grounds has been delayed.
At 3.23 a security update advised that the detonation had been delayed and was due shortly.
People close to the scene have been advised to expect to hear a "rifle shot."
UPDATED 3pm- A bomb squad robot has been sent in to deal with a suspicious package found in the Parliamentary grounds.
Onlookers have been advised to expect a small explosive device to be detonated at 3:05pm.
Treasury staff, who are housed in a building adjacent to Bowen House, have been advised to move away from their windows.
Parliament will not reopen until 3:20pm at the earliest.
Police have evacuated some areas of the grounds around Wellington's parliament buildings, telling people to steer clear as they have received a bomb scare.
The bomb scare is on the Beehive/Bowen St side, with Bowen St being closed and people kicked off the parliamentary grounds.
NBR staff
Thu, 20 Jan 2011
Thu, 20 Jan 2011
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Parliament re-opened after bomb scare
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