Police and bomb disposal units at Canterbury bus station during Friday night's security alerts. Picture: Chris Davey

by Adam Williams

Kent Police are hunting for those responsible for a major security alert in the city last night when two fake bombs were discovered.

Police and army bomb disposal experts worked through the night after reports of devices found throughout the city.

But they are now saying the two devices, which police are linking, were hoaxes.

Emergency services had a night of high drama as security alerts forced large parts of Canterbury to be shut down.

Areas of the city centre remained closed off until the early hours of Saturday morning following three separate major incidents in the space of six hours.

The evening’s drama began at 4.21pm when police received a report from a member of the public about a suspicious package close to the railway line in Old Dover Road.

Within the hour, reports had also emerged of a fire at the Marks & Spencer store in the High Street. Crews from Kent Fire & Rescue services attended after staff had discovered a fire in a baby changing unit. Initial investigations were treating the fire as suspicious and it was quickly put out.

Nearby shops and businesses were then evacuated as a precaution and by 6pm, half of the city centre had been sealed off. Staff and members of the public were told to wait behind a police cordon that stretched from St George’s Street to The Parade.

The city’s bus station at the Whitefriars Shopping Centre was closed to allow emergency personnel to set up their response units with buses diverted to other parts of the city.

Railway services between Canterbury East and Dover Priory were also suspended as investigations continued into the incident at Old Dover Road. Army Bomb disposal units arrived by 7pm and residents living in properties between The Phoenix pub and St Mary Bredin Church were evacuated from their homes.

As police activity looked to be winding down and Old Dover Road was reopened at 11pm, reports began emerging of another security incident at the St Lawrence Cricket Ground. A sell-out crowd of more than 7,000 had been watching Kent play the touring Indian side in a floodlit friendly.

Audio: Reporter Adam Williams, reporting from the scene during the night

After spectators had left at the end of the game, the Indian side were ordered to stay on the pitch for their safety. They were soon whisked away in private taxis under a police escort back to their team hotel at the Abode in St Peter’s Street. Several of the players, including all-rounder Suresh Raina, were seen relaxing in the hotel bar on their return and a heavy security presence was visible on the doors.

Police remained at the St Lawrence Ground until around 2am as investigations continued under the recently installed floodlights. Some of Kent’s players, including Geraint Jones and Matt Coles tweeted about the evacuation and even reported a controlled explosion inside the ground.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Adams issued a statement on behalf of the police thanking the public for their vigilance and co-operation.

He said: "This has been a difficult few hours for the residents of Canterbury and firstly I want to thank them for their patience and perseverance. This afternoon we took two calls, one about a suspicious device on the railway line near Old Dover Road and one about a small but suspicious fire in Marks & Spencer and we have responded to them with our colleagues from other emergency services.

Audio: Reporter Adam Williams on the incidents in Canterbury

"We are now in position to say that the first suspicious package on the railway line has been checked by Army bomb disposal experts and is not - as has been reported - an explosive device. We are satisfied it is in fact a hoax package designed to appear like a device. This is an extremely serious offence, and will be investigated thoroughly.

"The second incident at Marks & Spencer is still being investigated but the scene is secure. The small fire in the baby changing room on the second floor of the store is being treated as suspicious but it doesn't represent a threat.

"During the course of these incidents we have had a number of calls in relation to potential packages. I would like to thank the public for providing us with information where they have genuinely believed we need to be informed.

"Every incident has been or will be assessed to make sure there is no threat posed.

"I can confirm that during the course of the evening we have received a call to suspicious activity in the Kent Cricket Ground. We are currently assessing this report.

"Once again I would like to thank the public, particularly those whose day has been disrupted by these incidents. Their safety has always been paramount.”

Police were unable to speak directly to the media on Friday night, but are expected to release more details on Saturday morning.

Were you caught up in the drama? If so, tell us your story by leaving a comment below and email any pictures tomultimedianews@thekmgroup.co.uk