Court building evacuated after bomb threat

The Palmerston North courthouse was cleared today after an anonymous caller told police there was a homemade bomb in the building.

At 10am, Palmerston North area commander Pat Handcock said the building had been evacuated, with prisoners taken to police station cells.

No suspicious packages were found. It took specialist staff several hours to thoroughly search the building and declare it safe before re-opening it this afternoon.

Police were following some leads on who the caller was.

"If we find the caller, I can promise that charges will be laid against the perpetrator," Mr Handcock said.

- NZPA