Bomb Scare Hits Suva Street Third Day In Row

By PAULINI CURUSARA: August 29, 2001 Wansolwara Online (USP)

SUVA (Pasifik Nius): Three bomb threats in as many days directed along the busy Ellery Street in the heart of Fiji's capital of Suva has alarmed and inconvenienced tenants and shoppers.

Police say businesses fear a drop in sales.

The calls proved to be a hoax but police are not taking any chances.

Buildings in the street were emptied of hundreds of people today while a fast reaction military explosives unit searched the area.

Police suspect the calls may be linked to the current elections. The latest call was received by Suncourt Hardware Store.

Police spokesman Assistant Superintendent Romanu Tikotikoca said today the caller sounded like a Chinese female. An earlier caller like sounded like a male ethnic Fijian, according to Tikotikoca.

Police responded to the first call after a complaint by a caller who claimed to have overheard someone talking about a bomb attack on a wooden building at the junction of Ellery Street and Renwick Road.

The threats keep coming despite a public appeal by Tikotikoca for a stop to such acts.

Authorities are not leaving anything to chance and are taking every call seriously.

Ellery Street is a busy area, normally teeming with people. The multi-storeyed Fiji National Provident Fund shopping complex and office block is located there, aside from the many smaller retail shops and cafes.

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