Location: christchurch
District: Canterbury

PRESS RELEASE

At 11am on 5 January 2010 Court staff at the Christchurch District Court  found a suspicious package.

As a result, the Court building and surrounding buildings were evacuated and  streets for several blocks around the Court building were closed.

Police, New Zealand Defence Force, Fire Service and St John's Ambulance  worked to search the building.  The suspicious device was made safe.

On analysis at the scene the device was found to contain an inert substance.

The rest of the building was then searched by a Police Specialist Search Team  and found to be safe.

Police cordons in the area are expected to be lifted at 3.30pm.

Please view the full details of the alert online at:

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/22021.html

ENDS

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