Cordon stood down after "suspicious package" found in Bury St Edmunds
Police say they found no risk to the public
Last updated 13th Jan 2025
A police cordon in Bury St Edmunds has been stood down, after officers found a "suspicious package" posed no risk to the public.
They were sent to the scene at around 10.04am, after the items were found by staff at a building in St Andrew's Street North.
Police and fire crews were supported by a bomb disposal team, but the items were found to be training aids.
Officers say the calls to emergency services were made in good faith, and thanked people for their support.
Ashley Reed runs a local garage, and found out the road was closed when a parts supplier couldn't get through.
About 30 minutes after that, he says a police officer arrived, "and asked me if I would mind ceasing what I was doing, closing the business and moving up behind the barriers."
He said it had caused disruption: "I've got vehicles here that are supposed to be done to a timeframe for customers, so I've got to let my customers down.
"I've got another van which is meant to be done today for the NHS, and that won't be finished, and the poor guy's on the way down from Birmingham."
Mr. Reed said he wasn't too concerned the package would turn out to be dangerous: "If you want to cause havoc and harm to people, the last place you're going to target is the smallest courthouse that I've ever seen in my life in the middle of Bury St Edmunds, which is near nothing."
Suffolk Police statement in full:
Officers were called at 10.04am this morning to reports suspicious packages had been found by staff at a building in St Andrew’s Street North. Enquiries established the suspicious packages were training aids with no risk to the public, with the calls to emergency services made in good faith.
Emergency services including police and the fire service attended, alongside an Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team.
Buildings in the area including some residential properties were evacuated, while the bus station was also closed. A 100m cordon was put in place. The police cordon has been lifted and all roads have been reopened.
Police would like to thank members for the public for their patience and understanding while emergency services carried out enquiries and cordons and closures were in place.