Roderick.
Drivers urged to stay clear of central Moonee Ponds after bus bomb scare.
Herald Sun August 21, 2017.
CENTRAL Moonee Ponds was shut down to traffic for four hours today after an eagle-eyed driver spotted a suspicious package aboard his bus, leading to the bomb squad robot being called in.
Bus Association Victoria executive director Chris Lowe said the experienced driver spotted the package while doing his post-service check at 10.30am.
Traffic was diverted around the area until just before 3pm for police to conduct safety checks.
A robot was used to check the package and bomb squad officers in full protective gear were seen approaching the bus.
Police have given the all-clear and traffic is being allowed to move through the area around Mount Alexander Rd.
A bomb squad member in Kellaway Avenue. Picture: AAP
The bomb squad member checks the bus. Picture: AAP
The all-clear was given after about four hours. Picture: AAP
Dr Lowe praised the Dysons route 508 driver for following protocols.
“There is a concern, if there wasn’t they wouldn’t be searching,” Dr Lowe told the Herald Sun.
“It was a suspicious package at the end of his run.
“He (the driver) showed it to police and the area has been isolated and quarantined. The driver is fine and all agencies have been told.”
Police conducted checks in Kellaway Ave and Mt Alexander Rd.
Vision aired on Channel 7 showed the bomb disposal robot approaching the bus.
The bomb squad robot in Moonee Ponds. Image: Channel 7
Police conducting safety checks on the bus. Image: Channel 7
Police at the scene in Moonee Ponds. Image: Channel 7
VicRoads had urged motorists to avoid the area with closures on Mount Alexander Rd and Kellaway Ave in both directions, Dean St and Ascot Vale Rd, outbound on Park St and inbound on The Strand inbound, and part of Pascoe Vale Rd was affected but not closed.
Moonee Ponds Police Station and the Moonee Valley City Council office are just metres away from the area.
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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victor ... 2be13ac680 Just some of the 18 comments.
* Don't think the terrorists have won? Everybody is jumping at shadows.
* Oh my, if large parts of the CBD and local roads are going to be locked down every time someone leaves something on a bus my kids will have to barred from public transport.
* Thank you to all the emergency service peeps...We really need you guys at the moment...
* Someone leaves a bag behind and we all go apeshoot. Thanks ISIS, thanks USA, thanks Pauline Hanson...
* Sadly today we can't afford to take risks, well except heroes like you.
* Somebody left a bag behind on various trains in the London Underground and on a double decker bus. Somebody left a bag behind near the finish of the Boston marathon...
* Better safe then sorry
* If it's not clear whether it is a drill or a real emergency, I say look at how that bus is parked. If it was a planned drill, it would have been parked properly. The way it is just nose in to the kerb says "abandonment" to me - like the driver just jumped out and left it. Who could blame him/her?
* Fiver says someone forgot their backpack again.
August 21 2017, 14.57 Police give all-clear after bomb squad searches bus in Moonee Ponds .
Police have given the all-clear after the bomb squad was called in to inspect a backpack left on an empty bus in Melbourne's north-west.
Traffic diversions were set up in Moonee Ponds just after 11.30am while the bomb response unit investigated the bus.
The bomb squad robot next to a bus at Moonee Ponds. Photo: Twitter/@jekearsley via Channel Nine .
Traffic was very heavy in the area as police reopened the busy intersection about 3pm.
Nearby businesses were evacuated, and locals described the scene as "mayhem".
A member of the bomb disposal unit at the scene in Moonee Ponds on Monday afternoon. Photo: Seven News
A police spokeswoman said officers were conducting safety checks in Kellaway Avenue and Mt Alexander Road.
"The area has been secured," she said.
Local business owner and resident Louisa Line, of The Little Big Company store on Puckle Street, was evacuated. She said the scene was "mayhem – like a movie".
Traffic is very heavy in the Moonee Ponds area. Photo: VicRoads .
Another resident described the scene on social media, writing: "Police cars and fire trucks everywhere.
"Was in the park and got told to walk [the] other way around."
Television pictures from a Channel Seven helicopter showed a member of the bomb squad opening the bus door while dressed in a bomb disposal suit.
Police closed the road in both directions between Taylor and Homer streets, and traffic is heavy in the area.
VicRoads said there were delays. Motorists have been told to avoid the area if possible.
Route 59 Airport West and route 82 Moonee Ponds trams are affected in both directions because of congestion in the area.
12.49 Route 59 & 82 trams in both directions are experiencing delays because of traffic congestion caused by a police incident in Mt Alexander Rd.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/bomb- ... y0pko.html
