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.

(Image: Bob Weatherhead)

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.

(Image: Bob Weatherhead)

“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.”

Man in 60s arrested on suspicion of communication a bomb hoax after major armed police response in Oxford (Image: AA Traffic News)

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.

Alice’s Day in Oxford 2026 (Image: Philip Webber)

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.

TVP (Image: Newsquest)

“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.