Police are investigating who is responsible for a device found on Sunday afternoon under the Narrabri Creek Bridge, which forced authorities to set up an exclusion zone while they investigated whether it contained explosives.
“We received a call about 5.45pm advising the presence of a suspicious device under the bridge,” said Detective Inspector Gavin Rattenbury, crime manager of Barwon Local Area Command. “We liaised with the NSW Police Bomb and Rescue Squad and discovered it wasn’t explosive in nature.”
“We approached NSW Fire and Hazmat and the object was cleared and now we will send it off for an examination and go from there.”
Even though the device was found to not be explosive, police are still looking for who is responsible.
Police claim the device was designed to look like a bomb.
“We are putting it down to some sort of hoax, someone wanted to make out it was an explosive device,” said Detective Inspector Rattenbury.
“At this stage we have no suspects, anyone with information is urged to contact local police or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.”
The operation lasted over two hours, with an exclusion zone set up.
Tape was placed around the entrance to Collins Park and adjoining areas.
Narrabri Fire and Rescue incident controller Jason Anderson said 13 fire staff were involved.
“We put in an exclusion zone, assisted police with it, put in fire protection and once it was deemed a hazmat incident we had crews in breathing apparatus and gas airtight suits remove the hazardous material and they placed it into a hazmat bin,” said Mr Anderson.
Motorists were forced to detour across the Violet Street bridge and down Tibereena Street after police closed the main bridge and part of the Newell Highway.
The operation gained the attention of many local residents, who stood on footpaths watching the event unfold.