Shocked onlookers told of the "hectic" moment a "bomb squad" arrived at the scene of a cordoned off busy Nottingham road following reports of a "suspicious package." People in Carrington were evacuated over reports of the package inside a property in Mansfield Road.
Police called to the scene at 1pm on Friday (April 7) said searches were ongoing as officers investigated the circumstances of the incident. A cordon was set up for several hours and, following an extensive search of the building, no such package was identified and the area has now been declared safe.
Residents were temporarily evacuated from the near vicinity, including from Magdala Road, Zulla Road and Ebers Road. Police say nobody had sustained any injuries in connection with the incident.
Read more: Carrington residents evacuated and hotels 'blocked off' over reports of 'suspicious package'
The Lidl supermarket in Carrington was also cordoned off and Mansfield Road closed from the Goose Fair roundabout to Ebers Road, as inquiries continued. More than a dozen emergency service vehicles, including police cars, were parked on the outskirts of the cordon.
One man told Nottinghamshire Live he was supposed to be staying at Mercure Hotel, but was told by emergency workers that he was unable to go inside. Sherwood resident Jonathan Kemp, 51, said: “It was hectic. I’ve never seen this many police and emergency cars and vans around at once.
“All of a sudden there was just a lot of noises going off. You knew something big was going off. People have been saying lots of different things but there is a bomb squad vehicle in there."
Reece Murray, 38, who works as a delivery driver, said: “I was walking towards it on my way to the park. This must’ve been just after 2pm. We just wanted to grab a coffee but we saw all the flashing lights and the commotion and now this.
“They’re saying they think it’s going to be like this for a while. That’s a Good Friday turned into a bad Friday it looks like.”
Road closures were also in place on Hucknall Road from Pelham Road to Mansfield Road, while New Street had also been blocked. The roads have since reopened.
33-year-old plasterer Mitchell Costin said: “I’d just finished work but I’m not allowed in. I was trying to go in [to the Mercure Hotel] but they told me that no one was allowed through.
“I think both hotels are blocked off. I don’t think there’s a chance of me getting in there for a bit.
“I tried to ask what was going on. I don’t know. I started driving towards the hotel at first.”
Chief Inspector Amy Styles-Jones, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We’re pleased to say that this incident has now been safely concluded and people are able to return to their homes.
“Our top priority throughout this was to keep people safe, which is why we took this report as seriously as we did.
“We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding, as well as all the officers and supporting emergency services involved as part of our response to this incident.”
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