Bomb scare in NT Ombudsman's Office forces CBD evacuation

THE NT Ombudsman’s office was the target of a bomb threat which saw the NT House building evacuated and a section of Mitchell St locked down.

NT House Evacuation

THE NT Ombudsman’s office was the target of a bomb threat which saw the NT House building evacuated and a section of Mitchell St locked down.

A caller reportedly phoned the Ombudsman’s office around 3pm yesterday and said there was a bomb in the building.

Hundreds of workers from the 15-level office building and the Deck Bar below gathered outside as an emergency alarm sounded.

One onlooker — who didn’t want to be named — said evacuees “hadn’t been told anything” by authorities.

“We just heard the alarm,” she said.

NT Police responded to what they described as a “credible threat” and blocked off access to the road on the corner of Michell St and Bennett St for at least two hours.

The Tactical Response Group (TRG) attended the scene with the Bearcat bomb disposal vehicle and cleared the building by around 5.30pm.

Superintendent Kris Evans said emergency services “followed protocol” by evacuating the building to “see if there were any suspicious items”.

“We take all these things seriously,” Sup Evans said.

“You just never know in this day and age.”

Police spokesman Jason Gates said no suspicious items were found.

The incident is being investigated.