Newcastle University buildings evacuated and city centre cordoned off over suspicious item

MixedNorthumbria Police received a report of a suspicious item at a Newcastle University building on Kings Walk in Newcastle city centre at 2.10pm on Friday 2 October. 1 2 MixedSeveral university buildings were evacuated and cordons were put in place. 2 3 MixedQueen Victoria Road, Brewery Lane, King's Road and St Thomas' Street were among the roads cordoned off. 2 1

RightPolice, firefighters and ambulance crews attended, with the Daily Express describing a major 999 response. 3 1 RightA Northumbria Police spokesman said officers were in attendance and a cordon was in place to ensure public safety, adding that further information would be communicated in due course. 1 RightGB News reported that the main entrance of the Royal Victoria Infirmary, next door to the campus, was sealed off and the public redirected to other routes; Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the hospital remained open and was not being evacuated. 1

RightThe nature of the item has not been stated in the coverage, and the incident was ongoing when these reports were published. 3