26 February 2025 , 10:05
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A man has been arrested on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat to a primary school in Swindon on Tuesday.
Badbury Park Primary School and surrounding houses were evacuated around 3pm after the school’s office received a call claiming explosives were on the premises.
Local residents picking kids up from other schools returned to find a 200-metre cordon blocking off their homes. Evacuees were sheltered at the nearby Spotted Cow pub.
A sweep of the building turned up no explosives. Within hours a 36-year-old man from Marlborough, Wiltshire, had been arrested.
Superintendent Steve Cox said: ‘This swift arrest should offer reassurance to the people of Wiltshire that the widespread fear and disruption caused by hoax calls will not be tolerated.
‘We endeavour to investigate hoax calls robustly and with utmost sincerity. I would like to offer my personal thanks to the teachers, pupils, parents and residents for their cooperation and composure while my officers evacuated the area.
‘Also, thank you to The Spotted Cow which kindly provided respite to those who were evacuated.’
The primary school confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that staff and pupils were unharmed.
They said on Facebook at 3pm: ‘School is being evacuated so please collect children from Biddestone Ave on corner on Belcombe close.
‘EYFS and KS1 at 3pm and KS2 at 3.15. Please collect children who walk from home. Further info to follow. We are all ok.’
The Blue Kite Academy Trust, which runs Badbury Park Primary School added: ‘All the children are safe and parents have been informed.’
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, Wiltshire Police said they had sent specialist officers to assist the school in following its emergency evacuation plans.
Hundreds of children were evacuated (Picture: SWNS)
A local resident, who drove past the school after the evacuation, told Metro there were ‘around 10’ police vehicles at the scene and that roads were blocked off near the local shops.
She added: ‘Everything seemed under control.’
Badbury Park Primary School is an Ofsted ‘Good’ rated which opened in September 2019.
The school welcomes children from Nursery up until Year 6.