Bomb hoax at Sharjah Co-operative

SHARJAH — A false bomb scare at the Sharjah Cooperative Society’s Al Riqqa outlet on late Sunday night sent wave of panic and horror among residents of the area.

by

Afkar Ali Ahmed

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Published: Tue 25 Apr 2006, 11:00 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 5:54 PM

Police sources said they received a call on Sunday night on the 999 emergency number from an unidentified person, who said that a bomb had been placed at the Co-op’s Al Riqqa outlet.

Immediately after the call, the Anjad emergency unit, along with investigation officers and forensic experts rushed to the spot crowded with shoppers at around 10pm.

The police evacuated the Cooperative Society premises and cordoned off the outlet and the road leading to the store. Later the forensic laboratory technicians and investigation officers went inside the building to locate ‘the bomb’. The police also took the finger prints from the pay phone booth across the road from the store, from which the hoax call was made to police.

A four-hour extensive sweep of the entire premises, recovered no bomb, but police nevertheless increased security within and around the store to let the public know that the bomb scare was a hoax, and the store was safe for shopping.

All kinds of rumours began to circulate after the incident with inquisitive passersby stopping to take a look, and ask what had happened.

The officers at the scene refused to comment or disclose any details to Khaleej Times’ reporter who was on the site of the incident until late last night. The officers asked the reporter to leave the place saying no information will be given to any newspaper.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Nassir, an employee of the Cooperative Society said: “We got a [telephone] call from the CID asking us to stop serving customers and evacuate the building for security reasons. The officers did not tell us what was going on. A policeman arrived and asked the customers to leave the store. Those waiting in queues to make payment for goods purchased were asked to leave their items and trolley loads of goods and evacuate the premises immediately alongwith the store employees.”


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