Hospital on lockdown as 'man seen with machete' and public warned away
A hospital and primary school in Bath both went into lockdown today following reports of a man seen wandering around with a machete after 'threatening calls' were made to staff.
Armed police were seen on site with witnesses reporting a knifeman at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Wards were shut and patients arriving at the Accident and Emergency department were turned away, according to witnesses.
A large number of emergency response teams were sent to the site. Some inside the hospital say they were initially told to 'draw their blinds' and stay in their rooms while the site was effectively placed on 'lockdown.' Others have now been let out to a place of safety.
One witness said four Hazardous Area Response Team ambulances with staff in "full body armour" were on the scene while several armed police vehicles were also spotted. Police meanwhile have said the lockdown has since been lifted.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "Hospital staff contacted the police at approximately 9.45am to report they had received a telephone call from an unknown male who made verbal threats. A police presence was already at the hospital for an unrelated matter, who liaised with hospital security teams.
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"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 scene at the hospital after it went into lockdown (SWNS)They added: "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."
Patients arriving at the site were being told by hospital staff that the venue was on "lockdown" and people were seen queuing outside of the Accident and Emergency Department. A police helicopter has also been spotted hovering overhead.
One witness said: "I am at the hospital and it is in lockdown due to some kind of security threat. I'm in one of the stand alone buildings but we've been locked in and no one is allowed in and they are cancelling all appointments.
The hospital warned people to stay away while the incident is ongoing (SWNS)"They mentioned that it's someone who is not very happy and possibly wants to hurt people given us no further info." Visitors were later let out and allowed into the main building.
The witness added: "We've been let out and into the main building, there are armed police in the lobby and they are checking. We've heard someone was carrying a machete. Someone has said they are letting people out of the main building. Wards are still locked with regards to letting people in."
The entrance to A&E also remains cordoned off according to witnesses. The Mirror has contacted Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust for more information.
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