Stawell’s Frewstal Abattoir: Police confirm bomb hoax

POLICE have confirmed a bomb scare in Stawell was a hoax. 

Ararat Sergeant Brett Johnson said police searched Frewstal Abattoir on Wednesday morning after a bomb threat was reported at 6.15am. 

“At this stage it appears to be a hoax,” he said. 

“There’s no known motive at this stage.

“It could be any number of reasons and we can’t speculate.”

Workers were evacuated after the threat.

Sgt Johnson said the site had been cleared for workers to return. 

“We conducted a search of premises this morning and found no suspicious items,” he said.

“It’s a big area, something might turn up, but we didn’t find anything and have deemed the site safe for staff.”

Sgt Johnson said it was a criminal offence to make a bomb threat.

He said police would continue to investigate the threat

10.50am:

FREWSTAL workers are being allowed back inside the abattoir after it was evacuated over an alleged bomb threat. 

10am: Workers are waiting in the abattoir’s car park until they get the all-clear to resume work.

EARLIER: Police are on the scene of Stawell’s Frewstal Abattoir after an alleged bomb threat.

Ararat Sergeant Brett Johnson said the business, in Abattoir Road, had been evacuated.

Officers are searching the site for any signs of a device.

More to come.