A man in his 40s has been arrested in connection with a lockdown at the Royal United Hospital in Bath earlier today, Friday 2nd February.
Armed officers at the scene | Photo © Bath Echo
Staff at the hospital contacted Avon & Somerset Police at around 9.45am this morning after receiving a telephone call from an unknown male who made verbal threats.
A police presence was already at the hospital for an unrelated matter, which liaised with security teams at the Combe Park site.
Police in the grounds of the Royal United Hospital | Photo © Bath Echo
A second call making verbal threats was then received at about 10.15am and further officers were also dispatched to attend the scene, including firearms officers.
Police received a report of a man carrying an item, which there were concerns could have been a bladed weapon, in the vicinity of the hospital at approximately 10.35am, but this remains unverified by officers.
Armed officers were deployed to the RUH following the threatening phone calls | Photo © Bath Echo
The hospital decided to go into a lockdown and police advised a nearby school to take a similar precautionary measure.
Both lockdowns were lifted in the early-afternoon.
A police helicopter circled the scene for well over an hour | Photo © Bath Echo
The man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of threatening communications and he is in police custody.
An earlier police statement confirmed there had been no reported injuries.
