Bomb scare at Gaborone CBD
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday May 6, 2014 16:01
Briefing workers at BITC yesterday after the bomb hoax, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kabo Marage said a call was received from someone about a bomb in the BITC building but on inspection, they found nothing. He urged people to always report bomb threats to the police even if they turn out false.
Marage advised that if workers receive such threats, they should immediately evacuate the building and leave their cars.
“The reason why we are saying this is because at times, the bomb can be mounted in a vehicle or near the building. It will also help in our investigations or to try to locate where it can be. I can assure you that we checked around and there is nothing in the building,” he said.
Marage said they had received a call around 9.45am about the bomb threat and they immediately advised workers to vacate the area. He said this is the first bomb incident this year, following a similar incident last year.
Police at the scene used dogs, which can detect bombs and other equipment, to search the building before declaring it safe. During the operation at CBD, the police closed all roads leading to the High Court, Masa Centre and the First National Bank (FNB).
At some point around 1.48pm, workers were ordered to go back into their office one by one escorted by police, to take their belongings. All employees at the Masa Centre and Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) headquarters returned to work around 2.50pm after inspection by both Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and police.
However, some employees were uncomfortable returning, despite assurances from police.