Major Newcastle University teaching buildings were evacuated on Friday afternoon after the discovery of a "suspicious item" at the institution's city centre campus. Police confirmed that a 33-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of "communicating false information".
Buildings between St Thomas' Street and Kings Walk were evacuated, while those on Queen Victoria Road opposite the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) were also affected. University students found themselves unable to attend teaching, and hospital patients heading for the RVI had to use alternative entrances.
Police response and cordon
Northumbria Police confirmed that a report of a suspicious item had been made at 2.10pm. The majority of the huge cordon was withdrawn at around 4.45pm. However, the King George VI Building at Newcastle University remains taped off this evening with officers standing guard. Police confirmed that the cordon had been in place to ensure public safety.
Officers, including the specialist dogs unit, were joined at the scene by the Tyne and Wear Fire Service and a number of North East Ambulance Service "incident response" vehicles, which were parked by the entrance to Exhibition Park.
Impact on hospital and students
The RVI hospital was not evacuated, though it was not possible for the public to access the New Victoria Wing car park during the incident. Those attending hospital were advised to use alternative car parks, while people were still able to exit the hospital via Queen Victoria Road.
Confused students left unable to access faculty buildings told ChronicleLive how all they knew was: "We're just not allowed back in." Others who were trying to retrieve possessions from university premises expressed shock at what was happening. Another said: "We've literally just come back [after the summer], and it's only the first week back of proper teaching. This is pretty scary." A further group said: "We just live up the road and had no idea. No-one knows what's going on."
Official statements
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "At 2.10pm today (Friday) we received a report of a suspicious item at a Newcastle University building on Kings Walk in Newcastle city centre. Searches were subsequently carried out and have since been stood down. A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of communicating false information. He remains in police custody at this time."
A Newcastle University spokesperson said: "Earlier today, a small number of our city centre campus buildings were evacuated and a cordon was put in place as a precaution while Northumbria Police officers carried out enquiries."
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We received a call for an incident in Newcastle City Centre at 16:19 on Friday 2 October. We dispatched one duty officer, one commander officer and three HART crews (Hazardous Area Response Team) but were stood down by police shortly after."
