Oxford News
Bomb threat disruption on Oxford road was a ‘thrill’
Bob Whitehead, who has lived in Oxford for 25 years, found himself caught up in the incident while attending Alice’s Day events on Saturday (July 4).
As he tried to decide where to go next, he said he was suddenly told to move back by police as the area was locked down.
A police officer instructed him to “get back” and head towards Brewers Street as a cordon was put in place around St Aldate’s at around 2.20pm on Saturday (July 4).
Multiple marked and unmarked police vehicles were seen arriving at the scene, with armed officers closing the road in both directions near the junction with Speedwell Street.
“It was such a thrill,” he said. “People were arguing and wanting to go about their normal business. They were frustrated that it was a little over the top and being taken a bit too seriously.
“There was lots of congestion, albeit briefly, as buses were unable to move.”
Mr Whitehead added that his reaction was shaped by his past experiences.
He said he is “used to bomb scares”, having grown up in Belfast during the 1972 ‘Bloody Friday’ when at least 20 exploded bombs killed six people.
“I’ve been in a hotel when a bomb went off, the same day when there were others in the city – we used to stand and watch, it was exciting, if you can call it that.”
The incident is believed to have prompted evacuations as Thames Valley Police assessed the situation.
A man in his 60s has since been arrested on suspicion of communicating a bomb hoax and remains in custody.
While eyewitnesses recalled ‘confusion’ by local area tourists, many seemed to be unaware of what was going on.
Despite the dramatic response, disruption to the Alice’s Day festival also seemed limited.
During the day, parts of city centre transform into a wonderland with this year’s theme: Snarks, Rhymes & Riddles, marking the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem The Hunting of the Snark.
The Story Museum said it continued operating as normal.
An employee said: “No one was told anything by the police. We just carried on ignorant until we saw it online.
“It caused very little interruption and we managed to carry on with Alice’s day regardless.”
There was not believed to be any wider risk to the public, and the cordon has since been lifted, with normal activity resuming across the city centre.
Charlie Matthews appeared at Oxford Crown Court on August 27.
The 25-year-old is charged with two counts of rape.
The allegations are said to have taken place in Oxford in April and October 2021.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire data centres call to ‘pause’ expansion
The complainant for both counts is the same woman.
Matthews, of Langney Road, Eastbourne, pleaded not guilty to both counts.
A trial date, with a time estimate of four to five days, was set for August 21, 2028.
Judge Ian Pringle KC said that this is some seven years after the offences are alleged to have taken place.
The judge said: “Unfortunately, that’s the situation.”
Matthews was released on bail, with the condition not to contact the complainant.
Islandfarm Viscount is a 13-year-old gelding from Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell near Wallingford.
He took the top title at the 2026 Donkey Breed Society National Championship Show, held on August 22 at Pickering Grange Equestrian Centre in Coalville.
He is the offspring of East Lodge Bryony, a donkey left to the sanctuary by the late Alex and Sue Horn.
Mr Horn was a respected figure in donkey showing and won numerous awards during his lifetime.
Viscount has built an impressive record of his own, with championship wins at the Mid Somerset Show and the New Forest and Hampshire Show.
He was named Reserve Champion at the Ellingham and Ringwood Show, placing just behind stablemate Perehill Magical Moments.
Both donkeys qualified for the national finals, where Viscount claimed the Senior Gelding Class and went on to be named British Champion Gelding for the fifth year in a row.
He then competed against other class winners and took home the Supreme Champion title and trophy.
Perehill Magical Moments earned her place at the finals after wins at the Heckinton Show and Ellingham and Ringwood.
At the national event, she won the Senior Mare class and was named Reserve Mare Champion.
There are severe delays on the A34 between Oxford and Junction 9 for Bicester due to a traffic incident this afternoon on the Bank Holiday Monday.
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