The Royal United Hospital in Bath and neighbouring St Mary’s RC Primary School have been under lockdown today after a security alert.
Police at the scene of the incident | Photo © Bath Echo
Armed police were deployed this morning, Friday 2nd February, to the site at Combe Park and the police helicopter was seen circling the area.
Avon & Somerset Police advised people to avoid the area as a precaution.
On X (formerly Twitter, they announced late this morning: “We are currently responding to an incident in the vicinity of the RUH Bath.
“Officers are at the scene but at this moment in time would advise people to avoid the area as a precaution.”
They added: “We’d like to reassure the public that all emergency services have well-rehearsed plans for dealing with incidents.
“There are no reported injuries and our advice to avoid the area at the moment is precautionary.”
In a full statement released this afternoon police said: “We have been responding to an incident in the vicinity of Royal United Hospital, in Bath, this morning.
“Hospital staff contacted the police at approximately 9.45am this morning to report they had received a telephone call from an unknown male who made verbal threats.
Armed officers at the scene | Photo © Bath Echo
“A police presence was already at the hospital for an unrelated matter, who liaised with hospital security teams.
“A second call making verbal threats was received at about 10.15am and further officers were also dispatched to attend the scene, including firearms officers.
“We 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 at this moment in time that has not been confirmed.
“Enquiries are ongoing to identify the man in question to establish what they were in possession of.
“The Royal United Hospital decided as a precaution to go into a lockdown. We advised a local primary school to also go into lockdown as a precaution too, but both have now been lifted.
“We’d like to reassure the public that there have been no reported injuries and a police presence remains in the area.”
