Portsmouth and Southsea station: Area reopened and cordon lifted after "suspicious item" dealt with
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Officers have swarmed the station and restricted access to passengers this morning. A British Transport Police spokeswoman said the force was alerted at 7.40am.
Earlier today, a statement from BTP’s Hampshire division reported on Twitter: “Officers are currently responding to reports of a suspicious item at Portsmouth and Southsea station.
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“The station is closed and cordons are in place to allow specialist officers to assess the item. Further updates will be shared here when we have them.”
The cordon which police set up was 100m wide. The public being blocked from certain routes. Trains were halted at Fratton station and made to turn round.
Surrounding roads were also closed off to traffic. Several streets around the station were evacuated. These included Stanhope Road j/w Willis Road, Commercial Road j/w Surrey Street, Station road j/w Slindon Street, Isambard Brunel Road j/w Greetham Street, and Guildhall j/w Isambard Brunel Road.
BTP Hampshire now report that the item was deemed “non suspicious” – lifting the cordon after a bomb disposal robot was deployed. The station has now been fully reopened.
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Hide AdThe force said: “The item has now been confirmed as non suspicious and the cordons are in the process of being lifted. Please check with @SouthernRailUK and @SW_Help before you travel this afternoon.
"Thank you again for your patience while we’ve responded to this incident. Officers have now completed all enquires and the station is fully re-opened.
“Thank you to @HantsPolice for their assistance and @networkrail for supporting.”
You can follow events as they happened by looking through The News’ live blog below.
“Suspicious item” found at railway station
Key Events
- Portsmouth and Southsea railway station has now been reopened.
- Specialist police units were deployed following reported of a “suspicious item” being discovered.
- A cordon was set up - now lifted - and a bomb disposal robot deployed.
Bomb disposal unit at scene
A British Transport Police spokeswoman confirmed that one package at the station has been deemed as “suspicious”.
She added that an “explosive disposal unit” is currently at the scene. BTP Hampshire reported on Twitter: “The station remains closed.
“Specialist units are on scene assessing the item and there is a 100 meter cordon in place. Thank you for your patience while we respond to this incident.”
Residents evacuated
Police and fire services have evacuated residents from their homes in Isambard Brunel Road and surrounding streets.
Emergency services are continuing with the “suspicious item” at Portsmouth and Southsea railway station.
British Transport Police Hampshire said: “Officers are continuing to respond to this incident.
“Nearby accommodation and businesses are being evacuated as a precaution.”
BTP Hampshire update
British Transport Police Hampshire have issued an update about the “suspicious item” at the railway station.
They have declared that the item as “non suspicious” and the cordons are being taken down.
BTP Hampshire said: “The item has now been confirmed as non suspicious and the cordons are in the process of being lifted.
“Please check with @SouthernRailUK and @SW_Help before you travel this afternoon. Thank you again for your patience while we’ve responded to this incident.”
Station fully reopened
The British Transport Police (BTP) have confirmed that the station has now been reopened. They have completed their enquiries.
BTP Hampshire reported on Twitter: “Officers have now completed all enquires and the station is fully re-opened.
“Thank you to @HantsPolice for their assistance and @networkrail for supporting.”
Station closed off
BTP Hampshire first alerted residents about the “suspicious item” at 7.40am.
They said: “Officers are currently responding to reports of a suspicious item at Portsmouth and Southsea station. The station is closed and cordons are in place to allow specialist officers to assess the item.
“Further updates will be shared here when we have them. “
Photos from the scene
The News photographer Sam Stephenson has been at the scene this morning. Emergency services continue to investigate the package.
The cordon around the station remain in place.
Explosive disposal unit
BTP confirmed an explosive disposal unit is currently being deployed to the station to attend to the “suspicious item”.
Bus Routes disrupted
Bus routes across the city are being disrupted. The 100m cordon is still in place.
First Bus Portsmouth reports: “⚠️SERVICE UPDATE⚠️
“Services 3 and 8 will not go in City centre south but will stop outside Victoria park both ways.
“Service X4 going out of Portsmouth will not serve City centre south.
“Service 7 will start and terminate at Victoria park.”
Train travel disruption
South Western Railway said trains are expected to be cancelled and disrupted at Portsmouth and Southsea railway station until 2pm.
Live train tracker updates can be found on the SWR website.