Wellington and Palmerston North District Courts bomb threats: Buildings reopened

The Wellington District Court was evacuated this morning. Photo / Ethan Manera

• Wellington and Palmerston North District Courts were evacuated following alleged bomb threats.
• Police cleared the buildings this afternoon and have allowed people back inside.
• Police have not yet said the two incidents were linked.

Two lower North Island district courts have been reopened after police evacuated them this morning in response to alleged bomb threats.

Police emptied the Wellington District Court about 10.45am while they responded to an “incident” a police spokesman said. Officers evacuated the Palmerston North District Court about an hour later.

“We can confirm police are responding to an incident at the Palmerston North District Court, reported shortly before midday. The building has been evacuated as a precaution,” police said in a statement.

Police could not yet confirm what type of incident had occurred, but a witness at the scene in Wellington said a warden told him it was a bomb threat.

The man was walking past the scene this morning and said evacuated staff could be seen gathered outside the Supreme Court nearby, with a noticeable police presence in the area.

He said the first thing that alerted him to the situation was a police vehicle driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

The Wellington District Court has been evacuated this morning. Photo / Chris Knox

Evacuated staff can be seen gathered outside the Supreme Court nearby. Photo / Chris Knox

He said streets surrounding the court had been closed, and there appeared to be about 60-80 people “milling around”.

The Supreme Court was not affected.

Shortly before 1.30pm police confirmed officers had been stood down from both courts and people were allowed back inside both courthouses.