Suspected Explosive Device discovered, Safely denoted this Morning

source: Republic of Botswana (14/3/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 4 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"


6) 3/3/10: SUSPECTED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DISCOVERED, SAFELY DENOTED THIS MORNING

The Botswana Police Service is investigating an incident in which at 0830hrs, an explosive device was discovered at the car park behind the Office of the President.

This discovery immediately followed a surveillance alert that resulted in the swift mobilisation of emergency response by Police and other Security stakeholders who attended to the matter in accordance with in place emergency procedures.

The scene was quickly secured with people being evacuated from the adjacent offices. The device was safely detonated at the scene of its discovery with no resulting injury.

The Botswana Police Service wishes to inform members of the public that thorough investigations are ongoing to determine amongst others, the nature and origin of the device.

We also wish to reassure members of the public that the situation has thus been contained.

We further wish to appeal to the public to be vigilant. Should they see any suspicious device or circumstance they should exercise caution while immediately bringing their suspicion to the attention of the nearest Police or Public authority.

Finally we wish to thank affected members of the public for their calm and cooperation in assisting us in dealing with today's event.

While investigations are continuing there will be limits to what further information may be divulged. We shall, however, strive to release such further information as we can, and when it is appropriate to do so. In the meantime we would appeal to all members of the public to continue to exercise restraint.

7) 10/3/10: SUSPECTED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE INOPERABLE; INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUING.

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security wishes to inform the public that investigations are continuing into an incident in which a device suspected to have been an explosive device was found in the fenced in car park situated behind the Office of the President early in the morning of Wednesday 3rd March 2010.

The device was discovered in the form of a sealed hard plastic container whose markings, shape and colour suggested that it was a container for fragmentation grenades. The device was subsequently destroyed by security agencies as a precautionary measure to avoid unnecessary risk.

Further forensic investigations have confirmed that the said device was indeed a container for fragmentation grenades, but contained no explosive.

As mentioned above, it however, had to be destroyed to avoid unnecessary risk. Questions as to who placed the said device where it was found remains the subject to investigation.

The Ministry wishes to thank the members of the public for the cooperation given then the security agencies and requests the members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious device or persons to our security agencies.