‘We were cannon fodder’: Hamilton District Court evacuated amid concerns of bomb threat

The Hamilton District Court was evacuated at 11.30am today - an hour after a bomb threat was received. Photo / Belinda Feek

Eyebrows have been raised after a bomb threat was made at the Hamilton District Court this morning, yet it took an hour for the building’s occupants to be evacuated.

More than 100 people were asked to leave by security staff as the court took its morning break at 11.30am today.

Initially, members of the public were told there was a security risk and the evacuation would only take 15 minutes.

Shortly after, that was extended to an hour and the building was closed until 12.30pm, when court proceedings resumed.

A police spokesperson confirmed the threat was made at 10.30am.

“Police attended the address and nothing of concern was identified.

“As a precaution Fire and Emergency NZ were on standby and police units were outside the Anglesea St address.”

Police inquiries are ongoing as to who was responsible.

However, court occupants, including lawyers, spoken to were angered to hear police and the Ministry of Justice had known of the threat at 10.30am - an hour before the building was evacuated.

“Wtf is the bomb threat and we weren’t told and they knew at 10.30am?

“I’m angry,” one lawyer said.

Another was also miffed the threat was known for an hour before anything was done.

“Makes me feel safe,” another lawyer said sarcastically.

It’s understood prisoners were immediately put in vans yet court operations were allowed to continue.

“We were cannon fodder and they were safe.”

NZME put questions to police about its protocol around bomb threats, how long it should take before an affected building should be evacuated, and why it took so long for that to happen today.

A police spokesperson responded tonight that they “don’t have that information at the moment”.

The Ministry of Justice was contacted but declined to answer a myriad of questions including why it took so long to evacuate occupants due to its “security protocols” meaning no further information could be publicly released.

However, a spokesperson said, “protecting the safety of all court users is of paramount importance”.