Oxford Armed police respond to bomb threat in city centre

Multiple marked and unmarked police cars were spotted in St Aldate’s earlier this afternoon (Saturday, July 4).

Armed police respond to bomb hoax in Oxford city centre (Image: Newsquest)

Armed police closed the major road through the city in both directions in response to a bomb threat, outside of the police station at around 2.20pm near the junction of Speedwell Street.

A cordon was put in place and people were evacuated as a precaution as Thames Valley Police officers assessed the situation and carried out enquiries.

St Aldate’s in Oxford (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Oxford – St Aldates road closes due ‘armed police’ incident

A man in his 60s has since been arrested on suspicion of communicating a bomb hoax and remains in police custody at this time, according to Thames Valley Police.

The incident caused brief disruption in the city to the annual Alice’s Day festival, when Oxford transforms into a Wonderland, and left tourists ‘confused’ according to one eyewitness.

Alice’s Day transformed Oxford city centre 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.

St Aldate’s in Oxford was closed as police investigate bomb hoax (Image: Contributed)

There is not believed to be any wider risk to the public and the cordon has since been lifted and normal activity has resumed.

An investigation into the incident is still ongoing.