French nuclear plant evacuated in bomb alert

SAINT-LO, France, April 14 (AFP) – A bomb hoax forced the evacuation of around 100 staff members from a French nuclear power plant in the northern town of Flamanville, police said Wednesday.

The incident occurred Tuesday when a telephone caller told authorities that a bomb had been placed near a reactor at the power plant which had been shut down for regular maintenance.

The false alert did not interrupt the operation of the rest of the plant, the police said, adding that the employees returned to their posts after a five-hour search failed to find any device.