Related Articles
A Bristol Royal Mail worker has described the moment she was made to leave her depot during the early hours of Friday morning.
The employee, who wished not to be named, said she was left feeling ‘confused’ after being ordered to vacate the sorting office, on Gloucester Road, without fire alarms sounding.
Specialist officers, police dogs and an army bomb disposal unit descended on the Filton branch following reports of a ‘suspicious package’.
Investigations at the Bristol building led officers to believe the parcel had been moved to Bath.
A cordon was set up around both locations, and a “controlled explosion” was carried out in Bath this afternoon as ‘a precautionary measure’.
The worker told Bristol Live: “It was a very confusing moment.
“No fire alarm went off and our area managers approached us and simply told us we had to leave now. Leaving everything inside, assuming it was just a weird fire drill we all evacuated and went to the assembly point.
“The main feeling was confusion and curiosity but everyone was in good spirits and joking about the issue could be.”
Staff were made to stand outside for two hours while emergency crews were inside.
“We left the building at half two and were given an update at around 3am to say it would be another hour at least,” she said.
“By this point people were getting cold and we knew it was more serious than a dodgy fire alarm. 4:30am our shift manager agreed we could go home (we all finish at 6am & 6:30am normally) as he didnt feel it was safe till they found the item.
“Having seen how the managers reacted I am more than happy to return to work tonight.
“They did everything they could in an unprecedented situation.”
Officers at Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed ‘no items of concern’ were found.
A force spokesperson said: “Searches of two Royal Mail sites have concluded with no items of concern found.
“We received a call at 2:17am this morning (Friday, September 11) about a possible suspicious package at the Filton sorting office.
“Officers attended and after speaking with staff, established the package was likely to have already left the site and taken to the delivery office in Bath.
“Searches were subsequently carried out at both sites by specialist officers and dogs while Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit also assisted in the search in Bath.
“A controlled explosion was carried out as a precaution by teh EOD on a package found at the Bath site – the contents of which ultimately proved to be harmless.
“We’d like to thank anyone affected by this incident for their patience while we responded.”
Royal Mail has warned residents across the South West delivery of their letters and parcels might be disrupted.
