Police search for Gateway bomb hoaxer
Gateway bomb threat was a hoax confirms police.
POLICE are investigating the hoax bomb threat that caused chaos at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in uMhlanga yesterday. Shoppers and employees rushed out of the mall as police, security, the K9 unit and the bomb squad combed every inch of the mall looking for any explosive device.
Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North SAPS, confirmed a criminal case had been opened and said authorities would try to trace the hoaxer.
“This is a serious offence and if caught, the hoaxer may face a lengthy jail sentence. According to our report, an anonymous well spoken man called Gateway management to report an alleged bomb threat, but he would not disclose any further details,” he said.
Sane Ndlovu, PR manager for Gateway, said the bomb threat was received by management at about 5.20pm yesterday.
“The evacuation was orderly, thanks to the co-operation of shoppers and retailers. The bomb squad gave an all-clear at 9pm. Centre management regrets the inconvenience to shoppers and retailers and appreciates their co-operation in responding to the evacuation request.
“The rapid and orderly evacuation highlights the importance of the emergency evacuation exercises conducted at the centre twice a year in terms of legislation. These exercises are conducted in liaison with disaster management and emergency services in the interests of the safety and well-being of shoppers and retailers,” she said.
