Bondi Junction shopping centre Eastgate reopens after police operation

A Bondi shopping centre has reopened after a suspicious package prompted a police operation that evacuated the area on Monday morning.

Shoppers have been allowed back into a Bondi shopping centre after a police operation saw it evacuated earlier on Monday.

Officers evacuated Eastgate Shopping Centre on Spring Street as a precaution about 10.30am on Monday after a suspicious package was reported.

The package was in a corner between KrazyBird Chicken & More and the Coles self-serve checkout exit.

NSW Police confirmed officers conducted thorough checks and determined the package was not suspicious.

Kishor Bhatt, 23, who works at Tender Gourmet Butchery said: “We were working here at Tender Butchery and the security came and said there was something suspicious.

“They evacuated everyone … we asked what happened and they said there was something suspicious back inside with a wire coming out.

“It might be an explosive item.”

Mr Bhatt said the bomb squad arrived and investigated the scene.

“It was pretty scary, like the incident before (at Bondi Junction) was stabbing and now a bomb (would’ve been) terrifying.”

The area was declared safe at 11.20am and the shopping centre resumed normal operations.

More to come

Originally published as Bondi Junction shopping centre Eastgate reopens after police operation