It was a case of confusion at the Woolwich Town Centre yesterday afternoon as The Town Hall, Tesco Extra and The Woolwich Centre buildings were hurriedly evacuated.
Panic erupted after shoppers and staff and cashiers were ordered to leave the Tesco Extra store as quickly as they could. At the same time, the nearby Woolwich Centre, housing the Greenwich Council, was evacuating.
At the Woolwich Library, staff and library users were shocked when site security came down to order them out of the library. They emerged to see the area had been cordoned off and fireservice personnel rushed into the buildings.
As the evacuees arrived the General Gordon Square, a man was being handled by a team of police officers just outside a local pub. His BMW car was searched and two empty drug satchets as well as a drug container were found.
Officers placed him in handcuffs and a Police van took him away, while another officer drove off his car.
A waiter at the Great Harry Pub said the suspect was never inside the pub.
No one could tell a coherent story of what was actually happening. But a Police officer told Woolwich Online that the man was being arrested in connection with what was happening.
And initial rumours of a bomb scare, triggered by an unattended plastic bag at the shopping floor, appear unfounded because a Tesco Staff told Woolwich Online there was fire alarm and the building had to be evacuated - a standard safety procedure.
On Tuesday, a man walked into the Woolwich Library with a wheeled bag. He then left it in an open area unattended and walked out of the building.
After about 5 minutes, restive library users called the attention of a library attendant who came and removed the bag.
A bystander said "It is obvious that after what has happened in Woolwich, the authorities ain't taking any more chances."
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Image received with thanks from Grace Weller.
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