Bomb scare at Hastings Police Station

A bomb squad member prepares to enter the Hastings Police Station after a live hand grenade was handed in. Photo / Glenn Taylor

A live hand grenade a man took to Hastings Police Station yesterday has been disarmed, police say, and it will now be examined by the military.

A Hastings man walked into the police station with a live grenade about 11am yesterday, forcing the evacuation of a city block and requiring the expertise of the Army's bomb squad.

Senior Sergeant Nick Dobson said the man found the explosive device wrapped in plastic material in his back garden, and took it into the station along Railway Rd.

The building was promptly evacuated, and police took precautions as they sealed off a city block, which included the Hastings District Court.

The Defence Force bomb squad was dispatched from Wellington and arrived in Hastings by road about 3.25pm. Shortly after a member of the squad suited up and entered the station from Market St in an attempt to disarm the weapon.

Mr Dobson said the bomb squad confirmed the grenade was live.

Several members of the public were unaware of the scare and said they were worried the police cordon was in place to contain a gunman on the loose.

Police urged the public to stay away from the area, which included parts of Eastborne St West, Railway Rd, Lyndon Rd West and Market St.

Meanwhile any matters were deferred to the Napier Police Station.

Prisoners at the Hastings station were also transferred to the Napier station.

The bomb squad successfully disarmed the grenade and the station re-opened shortly after 5pm.

The man who took the grenade into the station would not face any charges and there was "nothing malicious" about what he had done.

However, he should not have brought it into the police station. "If people find suspicious packages it's better to call 111 rather than bring it in themselves."

Mr Dobson said the grenade "will be examined by the military and eventually be disposed of".