Following reports of two bomb scares today, one at Crowthrone Shopping Centre in Midrand and another at Fourways Mall, Linden Police Spokesperson, Captain Walter Spencer highlights important steps to take during a bomb scare evacuation.
”Although bomb scares may not occur often, the fact remains that these threats can be fatal.” said Spencer.
”Despite most malls and shopping centres having an excellent evacuation plan, people should obey instructions by police and security guards at the scene.” he added.
Steps to adhere to:
- Don’t panic
- Obey police instruction and allow the authorities to do their job.
- Refrain from running towards the danger. If a bomb scare is reported at a bank, people often run towards the danger, instead of running far away from it.
- Don’t pick up loose parcels which are not yours, you will never know what they may contain.
Here’s a look of the top 5 bomb scares of late in the Johannesburg North West region:
1. Northgate Shopping Centre’s banking hall was hit by a bomb scare in the late afternoon on 30 May 2015.
2. Bomb threat at Cresta Shopping Centre on 21 May 2015.
3. Bomb scare at Clearwater Mall, the armed suspect had been demanding cash and the premises were evacuated on 2 March 2015.
4. Bomb threat at the Clearwater Office Park on 24 April 2015, workers were told to leave work but later returned after thorough serachces by the K9 unit.
5. And most recently, a bomb scare at Wits University during the #feesMustFall protest over the last five weeks.
