A MAN has been arrested after bomb scares stopped Wrexham shoppers and staff from getting home at rush hour yesterday.
Employees and would-be buyers at the Wilkinson’s store on the Island Green retail park were evacuated at about 5pm.
Police were called and a search of the area conducted with an ambulance crew on standby.
An area of the retail park was cordoned off, including vehicles in the car park.
The area was secured within 90 minutes and no explosive device was found.
Anxious evacuees had to wait until the all clear was given before returning to their cars or to the store to collect their belongings.
Staff were also evacuated from the council offices on Ruthin Road at around
the same time after another hoax call.
A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “A number of hoax calls have been dealt with by the emergency services this evening.
“Locations on the Island Green shopping centre and on Ruthin Road in Wrexham were targeted by the caller and officers from North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service were mobilised to deal with the incidents.
“The locations were searched and no suspect devices were found.”
Inspector Chris Jolly, incident manager from the joint services control room at St Asaph, said: “A man in his 30s from the Shropshire area has been arrested this evening for making the hoax bomb calls. He is currently being held at Wrexham police station pending questioning.
“No members of the public were hurt during the incidents and we apologise for any disruption that may have been caused.”