Explosive situation: the scene outside No1 Croydon yesterday evening, just after the controlled explosion. Pic: ©SimonM
A package left outside No1 Croydon – the Threepenny Bit building on Addiscombe Road, next to East Croydon Station – caused a high-level security alert during yesterday evening’s rush hour, closing the railway station and seeing tram and bus services diverted.
The suspect device was subjected to a controlled explosion, but not before tens of thousands of rail passengers had their journeys disrupted during the incident.
Locals suggest that a delivery driver had left a parcel outside the building – despite No1 Croydon having a staffed reception desk.
George Street was closed off and trams suspended between Wellesley Road and Sandilands.
It was just after 5pm that National Rail, on advice from the Metropolitan Police, announced a security alert and closed East Croydon Station.
“The situation is being monitored, and updates will be provided when the station is safe to reopen,” National Rail announced.
Southern and Thameslink services were unable to call at East Croydon, with passengers diverted to Norwood Junction, Selhurst and South Croydon stations.
Offices and pubs nearby were evacuated and police cordons set up, as the Met’s Bomb Squad was called in.
At around 5.50pm, the controlled explosion, which could be heard several streets away, was carried out.
The police said that the incident was “stood down” shortly after 6pm.
A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said:”Members of the public were evacuated and safety cordons were put in place while specialist officers assessed the item.
“As a precaution, specialist teams have conducted a controlled explosion at the location.”
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
IC cannot keep on describing the tower as the ‘Threepenny Bit building’ – that old coin ceased to be legal tender after 31 August 1971. IC’s hip milennials won’t have a clue what the effing hell you’re on abaht
Can. And will.
Can anyone explain to me how a “controlled explosion” works? If the suspect package really is a bomb, doesn’t the controlled explosion risk setting off the actual bomb?
The controlled explosion can damage the bomb’s detonator, timer, remote-controller and any anti-handling device, so that it doesn’t go off.
The Army’s methods of dealing with bombs in Northern Ireland during “The Troubles” included exploding a large container of water to render the bomb harmless. It would also allow its components to be more easily examined. This could then lead to the identity and arrest of the manufacturer.
Having your parcel blown up by the police makes a change from it being damaged because the delivery driver chucked it over the garden gate