"DoCS Officers make Fake Bomb Hoax (Coniston street, school in lockdown)"
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- Category: Uncategorised
- Created: Monday, 17 June 2013 23:30
- Written by Jen Shite - Illawarra Mercury
Coniston Public School and nearby offices were placed in lockdown yesterday after a suspicious bag was found at the Department of Community Services building in Bridge Street.
Police evacuated the department and cordoned off surrounding streets. Fire brigade, ambulance and Hazmat crews were placed on alert shortly after 2pm.
Wollongong police confirmed three men had been questioned about the mystery bag, but were released without charges.
One of the men, Aaron Mcmaster, told the Mercury he and his colleagues were visiting the DOCS office as representatives of "Luke's Army".
The group claims to fight what it considers corruption inside child protection services all over the world. Mr Mcmaster strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
"We went into the Department of Community Services to get some information and pamphlets to help parents," he said.
Mr Mcmaster said his group wanted to provide parents with information on drug and alcohol support programs and counselling, as well as information on mental health issues.
"The three of us went in extremely polite.
"I wear a full suit and tie when I represent Luke's Army, I'm a very tidy person and well mannered," he said.
When a DOCS staff member said she would have to call the manager to help them, Mr Mcmaster suggested his colleagues wait in front of the building for him.
He said his colleague, Jeffrey Fisher, had left his wheelie bag containing Luke's Army information and pamphlets in the foyer, but when he went to collect it, he was asked if it was his bag and told it had "threatening material on it". That's when they (DoCS) called the police. (article was re-edited after appx 4 hours).
"Then police and DOCS security were all over us; it was insane. At no point did they ask if there was a bomb in the bag," Mr Mcmaster said.
"We were ripped out of the building, they took all of our stuff off us, including our phones so we couldn't contact anyone. It got out of hand very fast.
"The police were quite all right; we were thrown into the back of a paddy wagon.
"We co-operated with police, they kept us in the paddy wagon for half an hour then dropped us at the train station. It just got blown out of control in a huge, big way."
Wollongong police Inspector Phillip O'Neill confirmed three men were detained initially for a breach of the peace.
"All three were taken away, and we checked about things in the bag. Staff confirmed these blokes had asked questions about child abuse.
They were asked to leave, which they did," Inspector O'Neill said.
"There was no threat, no bomb.
"They were released and given directions not to return."
Mr Mcmaster had one priority on his mind afterwards. He said he had had to wait an hour and a half before being able to go to the toilet.
Bridge Street was reopened to traffic shortly after 3pm.
