A BOMB threat forced the evacuation of a Doncaster office block as police sealed off a town centre street yesterday.
Consort House on Waterdale was emptied of all staff after a phone call was made to the third floor office of the A4e employment agency.
Police sniffer dogs were brought in to check for a bomb but none was found and the all-clear was sounded 90 minutes later.
Officers were last night investigating the possibility of a link with a previous incident at the same premises just before Christmas, when a man allegedly threatened staff with a weapon.
The incident yesterday began at around 9.35am when police were called to the premises of A4e after staff reported receiving a bomb threat.
The threat led to an evacuation of around 100 people from premises on Waterdale, and the stretch of road between Hallgate and Chequer Road roundabout was blocked off, with buses and cars diverted down Hallgate.
Claire Siddall, lettings manager at Whitegates estate agents, said: “We were outside for over an hour and we were glad when it was all over because it was a bit nippy.
“We were told they had had a phone call about a bomb. They’ve had trouble before - just before Christmas a man came in with a knife and threatened staff and damaged the office before he left. I don’t think anybody was injured.”
Chief Insp Gwyn Thomas said: “Even though this was a hoax, the incident was obviously very worrying for staff at the premises and we are treating the investigation very seriously. We will do everything we can to identify the person responsible.”
A spokesman for A4e said: “We take the safety and security of staff and customers extremely seriously and our staff acted swiftly to evacuate the office and call the police. Other businesses at Consort House were also evacuated.
“The office has now reopened and is operating as usual.”
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