Eastland: Maroondah Highway closed due to suspicious package

Shoppers and staff have been evacuated after a suspicious device was found outside a chemist on Maroondah Highway.

Bystanders talking to police following the shutdown of part of Maroondah Highway near Eastland due to a bomb threat. Picture: Kiel Egging

Police have reopened Maroondah Highway after a bomb threat near a chemist shut down the heart of Ringwood for three hours.

Officers closed off the highway in both directions from Warrandyte Rd near Eastland to the Ringwood Bypass after a suspicious package was reported outside Chemist Warehouse, opposite Ringwood Lake Park, about 11.30am.

Shoppers and staff at businesses along the large section of the road were told to evacuate.

Maroondah Inspector Dean Grande said the bomb squad was called in and found a battery with tampered wires lying on the footpath near Larrisa Ave.

The battery’s case had also been cracked open.

“They (the bomb squad) are now in attendance and having a look at the device, to determine what it is and make the area safe,” he said.

“There is no threat to the residential area or the parklands at this stage and we envisage opening up (the road) very soon.”