Ringwood: Belgrave-Lilydale line in chaos, man arrested after bomb scare

A man allegedly at the centre of a bomb threat that led to commuter chaos will face court next month.

Police have shut down streets around Ringwood station on Friday, February 25. File picture.

A man allegedly at the centre of a bomb scare at a Blackburn home, which also caused chaos on the Belgrave-Lilydale train line on Friday, will face court next month.

Police arrested a 23-year-old Blackburn man at Ringwood railway station on Friday, February 25 about 4.15pm, in connection to the discovery of a suspicious device at a home in Blackburn’s Glen Ebor Ave earlier in the day.

The Bomb Squad attended both the home and the station following the man’s arrest, with both locations evacuated as technicians worked to deem them safe.

It led to police blocking off streets surrounding Ringwood railway station for several hours, and services being suspended on part of the Belgrave and Lilydale lines from Box Hill.

â›”Belgrave/Lilydale lines: Buses replace trains Box Hill - Upper Ferntree Gully/Lilydale due to @VictoriaPolice requests.

>Buses are in operation.
>Allow over 60mins extra travel time, and consider local alternative transport.

Info: https://t.co/9k2eekMcAWpic.twitter.com/vYHjJyFJCa

— Metro Trains (@metrotrains) February 25, 2022

Neighbours surrounding the Blackburn home were also evacuated for most of the day and weren’t allowed back into their homes until late in the evening.

A Victoria police spokeswoman said the 23-year-old man was charged with numerous offences, including those related to the making and possession of explosive devices.

The man has been remanded to face the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on March 9.