BREAKING: Police respond to Durban CBD bomb scare

ROADS in Durban CBD were cordoned off this morning after police responded to an alleged bomb scare at Woolworths in Dr Pixley Kaseme (West) Street.

All emergency services attended the scene and roads in the CBD were cordoned off while police investigated.

It was later reported that SAPS spokesman, Vish Naidoo, confirmed that police had responded to a hoax call from an unidentified caller of a suspicious parcel found opposite Woolworths in Monty Naicker Road (Pine Street) earlier today. Naidoo said police resources were being exhausted by hoax calls relating to suspicious parcels.

Drama in Durban As suspicious device is inspected by brave SAPS member @bluesecuritydbn @ECR_Newswatch @crimeairnetwork @Reuters @MegazoneNews @pierreminimal pic.twitter.com/pYDPwGxly2

— Andrew The Video Guy 🇬🇷🇿🇦 (@CnnAndreas) July 19, 2018

In recent weeks police have responded to a number of incendiary devices which had been planted at Woolworths stores across the city and outside the Vodacom Durban July.

The most recent bomb scare unfolded this morning, at a Woolworths store in uMhlanga. According to our sister paper, the Northglen News the ‘suspicious package’ turned out to be a firecracker.

Bomb scare @WOOLWORTHS_SA Durban CBD. pic.twitter.com/JUOoThfs9P

— Zakhe Ntshangase (@zakhentsh) July 19, 2018

Berea Mail journalist, Rudy Nkgadima is at the scene in Durban and reports that Woolworths is closed. Traffic around the area is still heavily affected.

This is a developing story.

UPDATE:

Police and other authorities have left the scene. Our journalist, Rudy Nkgadima has also confirmed that while the Woolworths store remains closed all other stores in the area are operational. He said even the street vendors have continued trading on Dr Pixley Kaseme (West) Street. Traffic has now returned to normal.

At the time of the update 2.06pm on 19 July, police have not made an official statement.