Bomb scare at Francistown High Court
Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday July 29, 2014 13:10
A switchboard operator at the court received a call around 10 am from an anonymous person who claimed that a bomb had been planted somewhere inside the building.
According to workers of the court who requested anonymity because they were not allowed to talk to the press, the caller – believed to be a man – warned the switchboard operator that a bomb planted in the building could explode at anytime.
The caller added that the workers must evacuate the building forthwith “if they love their lives”.
Sources who spoke to this publication said that the caller did not state why the bomb was planted inside the building.
When Mmegi arrived at the High Court, many of its workers had gathered about 200 metres outside the premises as a security precaution. Police had closed the road that passes on the side of the court and nearby Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS). Workers from BURS were also instructed to evacuate their offices.
Cars and pedestrians were not allowed to use the road. Bomb experts from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) could be seen inside the building in the company of plainclothes officials believed to be Directorate of Intelligence Services (DIS) agents.
The Fire Department also stood at the ready in the event of the bomb exploding.
A police officer of the rank of Senior Superintendent, who did not want to reveal his name, said he was not ready to brief the media as investigations were still ongoing inside the building. By 1pm, workers were still gathered where security officers, awaiting the finalisation of investigations, had instructed them to wait.