Expatica news

Bomb scare at Antwerp Central

17 April 2007

BRUSSELS – Antwerp Central Station was evacuated today in response to a bomb threat. Train service to Antwerp was only allowed into the Antwerp-Berchem station, says Guido Ardeel, spokesperson for rail infrastructure manager Infrabel. No suspicious items were found however.

The evacuation went smoothly and safely. A safety buffer zone of about 100 metres around the station was also evacuated. People working in the area – in the zoo for instance – were allowed to stay.

The local police received an email with a bomb threat at 12.10 this afternoon. The email reported that a bomb would explode in Antwerp Central Station at 4 pm. Federal and local police decided to start evacuating at 2.30 pm because they needed 90 minutes to search the station.

The station remained closed until 4.40 pm, when train service to the station resumed. Ardeel said there would be no delays later on.

Investigation is also being carried out into who sent the email.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news