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Brisbane transport system in chaos - Brisbane
BRISBANE'S public transport system was shut down twice, several hundred uniformed police were called onto city streets and ambulances were placed on alert yesterday in response to a bomb threats.
Roads were congested and commuters stranded as bus and train services were suspended for half an hour from 5.45pm. The system was also shut down for 90 minutes at midday immediately after threatening phone calls were received.
"There have been threats made about bombs on buses and trains," Premier Peter Beattie said. "We're being over-cautious because we're not sure if they are hoaxes or if they are real.
"In light of what happened last week in Sydney and Melbourne, I think Queenslanders would want us to be over-cautious."
Buses were ordered to pull over to the side of the road during the shutdown and drivers told to usher passengers at least 100 metres away.
Trains were cleared of passengers, Central Station was evacuated and commuters were directed away from other stations in the central business district and inner-city suburbs.
Police bomb squads were placed on stand-by.
Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said police were taking the threats seriously. He declined to reveal details about the call, other than to say the threats were made specifically against the bus and rail network.
Ferries continued operating, but with heightened security arrangements.
As of late yesterday, police had established a major incident room and were trying to identify the source of the phone calls. Security checks were still being carried out on buses and trains.
Asked if the calls were terrorism-related, Mr Beattie said: "We don't know the answer to that."
BRISBANE'S public transport system was shut down twice, several hundred uniformed police were called onto city streets and ambulances were placed on alert yesterday in response to a bomb threats.
Roads were congested and commuters stranded as bus and train services were suspended for half an hour from 5.45pm. The system was also shut down for 90 minutes at midday immediately after threatening phone calls were received.
"There have been threats made about bombs on buses and trains," Premier Peter Beattie said. "We're being over-cautious because we're not sure if they are hoaxes or if they are real.
"In light of what happened last week in Sydney and Melbourne, I think Queenslanders would want us to be over-cautious."
Buses were ordered to pull over to the side of the road during the shutdown and drivers told to usher passengers at least 100 metres away.
Trains were cleared of passengers, Central Station was evacuated and commuters were directed away from other stations in the central business district and inner-city suburbs.
Police bomb squads were placed on stand-by.
Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said police were taking the threats seriously. He declined to reveal details about the call, other than to say the threats were made specifically against the bus and rail network.
Ferries continued operating, but with heightened security arrangements.
As of late yesterday, police had established a major incident room and were trying to identify the source of the phone calls. Security checks were still being carried out on buses and trains.
Asked if the calls were terrorism-related, Mr Beattie said: "We don't know the answer to that."
posted by professor rat at 9:45 AM
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