Bomb squad called to CBD incident

A man has been charged following an incident in the CBD that saw the Bomb Response Unit called in to conduct a safety check on a vehicle.

Police confirmed a man was arrested in Collins St just after midday on June 19.  

Police including heavily armed officers, as well as multiple police cars swarmed the scene.

In a statement police said, “the matter is not terror related and there is no immediate threat to community safety”, adding the “investigation is not related to the bank”.

“Police arrested a 33-year-old man on Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD shortly after midday today,” police said.

“He will now be interviewed in relation to an ongoing Arson and Explosives Squad investigation.”

“The Bomb Response Unit has deployed to conduct a safety check on a vehicle in Collins Street.”

“Further information will be provided once operationally appropriate to do so.”

Members of the public and local traffic were blocked off.

According to witness reports, the man was taken out of a building.

Offices searched the man’s vehicle and located a firearm and quantity of drugs.

With assistance from the Bomb Response Unit, detectives also executed a search warrant at a North Shore address this afternoon.

Investigators located and seized a number of items including suspected explosive devices.

The Parkville man has been charged with a number of offences, including:

• make/possess explosive substance
• bomb hoax
• traffic drug of dependence
• prohibited person possess firearm
• possess weapons
• possess proceeds of crime
• theft of a motor vehicle.

He was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 20 June.