A faulty security tag mistaken for a bomb led to the evacuation of John Lewis in Liverpool city centre on Tuesday. The incident began when an employee discovered the electronic tag making a loud ticking sound at around 10:00 BST.
According to Merseyside Police, a staff member wrapped and taped the tag to muffle the noise but did not inform colleagues about its nature or location. The object's appearance and sound raised concerns, prompting the employee to alert emergency services and self-evacuate the store.
Police confirmed that the device was a malfunctioning electronic security tag and deemed it safe. The store on South John Street in the Liverpool One complex was closed for approximately four hours, with nearby roads shut and buses diverted from Liverpool One bus station.
A John Lewis spokesman stated: 'A broken electronic security device which had been wrapped up was mistaken for a suspicious item, and the team followed our robust security measures by calling the police.'
