Bomb squad scrambled to Barclays bank branch as customers evacuated into street
A BANK was forced to be evacuated after a suspicious package was discovered in the city centre branch.
A bank branch has been evacuated
Police cleared Barclays bank in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and placed at least a 100m cordon around the building earlier this afternoon.
Staff and customers were forced to leave the branch after a "suspicious package" was discovered.
It is believed to be a suitcase.
Scott Godkin, who was in the bank as the police arrived, said: “We walked into the bank and I was about to put my card in the machine when the police walked in.
Bomb disposal team called in Huntingdon after reports of a suspicious package
"One of the staff said that the suitcase had been there for a couple of hours.”
Surrounding streets were also shut as an explosive ordnance disposal team, reportedly the RAF's specialist bomb disposal unit, investigated the package.
Footage from the scene shows shocked staff standing on the otherside of police tape looking on as emergency services attend the branch.
There is an Incident at Market Hill in Huntingdon. Parts of Princes St are closed with pedestrian areas closed from Chequers Ct to George St
— Hunts police (@HuntsCops) September 7, 2016
Police have cleared Barclays bank and placed a cordon around the building
#Bombscare in #Huntingdon town centre
— Paul Pescud (@PaulPescud) September 7, 2016
A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Officers are currently dealing with a suspicious package left inside Barclays Bank.”
Part of the town was in lockdown, with the the area around Market Square closed off.
The package is thought to be a suitcase
Sections of Princes Street was closed, with pedestrian areas previously shut from Chequers Court to George Street.
Police, who were called to the scene around 3.30pm on Wednesday afternoon, urged people to avoid the area.
An explosive ordnance disposal team is investigating the package
It is reported the cordon has since been lifted.
More to follow . . .