The quiet of a Geelong West afternoon was shattered on Tuesday when authorities were forced to call in the bomb squad after the discovery of a potentially dangerous explosive device at a residential unit complex.
Police and Emergency Services Swiftly Respond
The alarming find was made at a property on Autumn Street around 2:30 PM on Tuesday, 7 May. Upon confirming the suspicious nature of the item, local police immediately enacted emergency protocols. The specialist Bomb Response Unit from Victoria Police was urgently dispatched to the scene to assess and neutralise the threat.
As a precautionary measure, residents in the immediate vicinity were evacuated from their homes to ensure their safety. The police established a significant cordon around the area, closing off sections of the street and redirecting traffic and pedestrians while the experts conducted their work.
Device Safely Removed for Forensic Examination
The highly trained officers from the Bomb Response Unit successfully secured the device. It was safely removed from the Autumn Street location without incident. The device has been taken for further forensic examination by police to determine its exact nature, origins, and potential risk.
While the immediate danger was contained, the presence of such an item in a residential neighbourhood has understandably caused concern among locals. The sight of police vehicles, emergency services, and the bomb squad truck is not a common one in the suburban streets of Geelong West.
Investigation Ongoing as Residents Return Home
Following the safe removal of the device, the police cordon was lifted, and evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes by Tuesday evening. Victoria Police have confirmed that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the device is now underway.
Authorities are working to piece together how the explosive item came to be at the unit complex and who may be responsible. Police are likely to conduct door-to-door inquiries and review any available CCTV footage from the area as part of their ongoing efforts.
A Victoria Police spokesperson reiterated the seriousness with which such incidents are treated, praising the coordinated response of all emergency services involved. They also encouraged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
