Explosion drama in Croydon's Purley Way after suspicious package uncovered
Exclusive
By Aline Nassif
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EXPLOSIVE: Explosives officers deal with plastic explosives in the Purley Way playing fields.
Photo no: CCRPM020709B by Paul Martyniuk.
aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk
A controlled explosion had to be carried out on Croydon's largest playing fields after police uncovered a suspicious package.
Croydon Police Station also had to be evacuated after the item, containing plastic explosives, was transported there by an officer.
Police were called out by a house clearance company in Croydon yesterday morning. Officers collected the suspect devices and put them in the boot of their car.
They drove to Croydon Police Station in Park Lane at around 10.30am.
When stunned staff realised what was in the boot of the car, they told workers to leave the building and called in bomb experts.
One officer said: "They just drove into the car park with plastic explosives in their boot.
"It's a good job someone asked and raised the alarm.
"The station had a small evacuation. The whole situation was so bad it was almost funny."
The explosives were driven to the playing fields' at 11.30am and they were safely detonated near the pavilion.
For more on this story, see the Advertiser tomorrow (Friday).
7 Comments
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by Nerdy Nerdy, Holy Land
Friday, July 03 2009, 8:48PM
“Dont be silly they are used to that sort of thing happening in the classroom at that school”
by Dean, ...
Friday, July 03 2009, 4:16PM
“It was scary to the children having sports day at haling manor high school, seeing an unexplained explosion in the middle of a field with no warning.”
by RHM, Croydon
Thursday, July 02 2009, 9:10PM
“So the officer drove the stuff to the police station? Oh my, what a plonker.”
by P C Plod, pig sty
Thursday, July 02 2009, 8:14PM
“big fuss over nothing then eh?”
by Mark, Croydon
Thursday, July 02 2009, 7:30PM
“Why all of the Drama? Plastic Explosive is one of the safest materials around as long as there are no detonators around!
It does have other useful uses, so probably is legit and the owner just kept some surplus - which is actually a bit naughty!”