Steven Mace
03-12-2002, 05:37 AM
FIREARM SCARE HALTS TRAIN
BY KARL GRAFTON
11:00 - 11 March 2002
Armed police and at least 20 other officers sealed off Newton Abbot's train station yesterday after reports that a man with a gun was on board a train.
But, after more than 90 minutes, the alert turned out to be a false alarm.
The train, one of the main services between Paddington and Penzance, was held on Platform 2 while police surrounded it.
Rail passengers and other members of the public were quickly ushered out of the station which was turned into a no-go area.
The incident began at around 1pm when a woman on the Virgin Penzance-bound train informed police she had seen a man on board with a gun as the train was near Dawlish.
The train was stopped at Newton Abbot.
Armed officers boarded the train and removed the man after searching him and speaking to him.
Other passengers were also taken off.
The train was searched and no weapon was found.
All services into and out of the station were suspended for about 90 minutes.
A police spokesman said the incident had been a false alarm.
She said: "A woman on board the train said she believed a man sitting near her had a gun
"After an extensive search of the train no trace of a weapon was located.
"The man was questioned and searched but released without charge."
Police said the alert was a "false alarm with good intent".
The man, believed to be from the Falmouth area, is believed to have continued with his journey on the train.
Passengers waiting to join the train were treated to a free cup of tea and coffee in the Queens Hotel just opposite.
Two eyewitnesses spoke of their shock as they watched the incident unfold.
Abdul Hamid, who works at a local restaurant, was on the train as it pulled in to Newton Abbot.
He said he couldn't believe what was happening.
He said: "When we were told to leave the train I was just irritated because I wanted to get where I was going.
"But when I saw the armed police I knew something more serious was happening.
"I couldn't believe it and there seemed to be so many police around.
"It seemed to take ages to sort it all out but eventually it turned out to be nothing."
Kerry Seymour, of Torquay, was also astonished by the events, adding: "I got on the train at Newton Abbot heading for Plymouth and sat there for 30 minutes.
"Then were told there was a technical fault and then three police officers turned up with guns.
"After that we weren't given any information at all which was a bit scary.
"In the end my friend picked me up and drove me to Plymouth.
"But it's good that nobody was hurt and it was all a false alarm."
A spokesman for Railtrack, which runs Newton Abbot station, said the company had contingency plans in place for such eventualities and had stopped trains from passing through the station.
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=84702&command=displayContent&sourceNode=84701&contentPK=1237393
Steve Mace
BY KARL GRAFTON
11:00 - 11 March 2002
Armed police and at least 20 other officers sealed off Newton Abbot's train station yesterday after reports that a man with a gun was on board a train.
But, after more than 90 minutes, the alert turned out to be a false alarm.
The train, one of the main services between Paddington and Penzance, was held on Platform 2 while police surrounded it.
Rail passengers and other members of the public were quickly ushered out of the station which was turned into a no-go area.
The incident began at around 1pm when a woman on the Virgin Penzance-bound train informed police she had seen a man on board with a gun as the train was near Dawlish.
The train was stopped at Newton Abbot.
Armed officers boarded the train and removed the man after searching him and speaking to him.
Other passengers were also taken off.
The train was searched and no weapon was found.
All services into and out of the station were suspended for about 90 minutes.
A police spokesman said the incident had been a false alarm.
She said: "A woman on board the train said she believed a man sitting near her had a gun
"After an extensive search of the train no trace of a weapon was located.
"The man was questioned and searched but released without charge."
Police said the alert was a "false alarm with good intent".
The man, believed to be from the Falmouth area, is believed to have continued with his journey on the train.
Passengers waiting to join the train were treated to a free cup of tea and coffee in the Queens Hotel just opposite.
Two eyewitnesses spoke of their shock as they watched the incident unfold.
Abdul Hamid, who works at a local restaurant, was on the train as it pulled in to Newton Abbot.
He said he couldn't believe what was happening.
He said: "When we were told to leave the train I was just irritated because I wanted to get where I was going.
"But when I saw the armed police I knew something more serious was happening.
"I couldn't believe it and there seemed to be so many police around.
"It seemed to take ages to sort it all out but eventually it turned out to be nothing."
Kerry Seymour, of Torquay, was also astonished by the events, adding: "I got on the train at Newton Abbot heading for Plymouth and sat there for 30 minutes.
"Then were told there was a technical fault and then three police officers turned up with guns.
"After that we weren't given any information at all which was a bit scary.
"In the end my friend picked me up and drove me to Plymouth.
"But it's good that nobody was hurt and it was all a false alarm."
A spokesman for Railtrack, which runs Newton Abbot station, said the company had contingency plans in place for such eventualities and had stopped trains from passing through the station.
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=84702&command=displayContent&sourceNode=84701&contentPK=1237393
Steve Mace