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| Man arrested in Watford after bomb squad destroys suspicious package | Man arrested in Watford after bomb squad destroys suspicious package |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man in a niqab has been arrested after army bomb-disposal experts made a controlled explosion of a suspicious package in Watford. | |
| Cars and buses were left abandoned as police forced civilians to clear the town centre on Thursday while the bomb squad deployed a robot to detonate a suspicious package outside a Travelodge. | Cars and buses were left abandoned as police forced civilians to clear the town centre on Thursday while the bomb squad deployed a robot to detonate a suspicious package outside a Travelodge. |
| Pictures on Twitter showed officers earlier confronting a figure in Islamic robes and a veil near a bag on the ground. It is not clear if this was the same object destroyed by the bomb squad. | Pictures on Twitter showed officers earlier confronting a figure in Islamic robes and a veil near a bag on the ground. It is not clear if this was the same object destroyed by the bomb squad. |
| Cordons remained in place on Market Street and High Street, Watford’s main shopping area, on Thursday afternoon while experts scoured the area. The town’s ring road was also closed to traffic. | Cordons remained in place on Market Street and High Street, Watford’s main shopping area, on Thursday afternoon while experts scoured the area. The town’s ring road was also closed to traffic. |
| Police began clearing the area shortly before midday, according to the Watford Observer. The paper reported that the bomb squad was called in shortly after, as both marked and unmarked police cars swarmed the scene. | Police began clearing the area shortly before midday, according to the Watford Observer. The paper reported that the bomb squad was called in shortly after, as both marked and unmarked police cars swarmed the scene. |
| Roads into the town were blocked to prevent traffic entering the area, and businesses close to where the suspicious package was found were evacuated. Just after 1.30pm bystanders heard a sound “like a gunshot” and, 10 minutes later, Hertfordshire Constabulary said a device had been destroyed in a controlled explosion. | Roads into the town were blocked to prevent traffic entering the area, and businesses close to where the suspicious package was found were evacuated. Just after 1.30pm bystanders heard a sound “like a gunshot” and, 10 minutes later, Hertfordshire Constabulary said a device had been destroyed in a controlled explosion. |
| A man has been arrested and is in custody, the force said. Pictures on social media showed that he was wearing a burqa when tackled by police. | A man has been arrested and is in custody, the force said. Pictures on social media showed that he was wearing a burqa when tackled by police. |
| Police said the man was carrying two rucksacks, one Peppa Pig-branded bag which contained children’s books and a Ladybird rucksack also holding children’s books. | Police said the man was carrying two rucksacks, one Peppa Pig-branded bag which contained children’s books and a Ladybird rucksack also holding children’s books. |
| Police said in a statement: “A suspicious device found in Watford town centre has been safely destroyed following a controlled explosion by bomb-disposal experts based with the army. | Police said in a statement: “A suspicious device found in Watford town centre has been safely destroyed following a controlled explosion by bomb-disposal experts based with the army. |
| “Experts remain at the scene making further assessments and follow-up enquiries. This work is likely to continue for some while and as a precaution, cordons and road closures in Market Street and the High Street will remain in place. The ring road has also been closed to traffic. | “Experts remain at the scene making further assessments and follow-up enquiries. This work is likely to continue for some while and as a precaution, cordons and road closures in Market Street and the High Street will remain in place. The ring road has also been closed to traffic. |
| “Public safety is at the forefront of the police operation and we would ask people to avoid the centre of Watford until further notice. As part of the ongoing investigation, a man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is being taken into police custody.” | “Public safety is at the forefront of the police operation and we would ask people to avoid the centre of Watford until further notice. As part of the ongoing investigation, a man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is being taken into police custody.” |