20 Jan 2011

Suspicious briefcase at Parliament blown up

4:52 pm on 20 January 2011

Parliament has reopened after the bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion.

The building in central Wellington was evacuated about 2pm on Thursday after a suspicious briefcase was found outside the back of the Beehive.

Police stopped all traffic within a block of the building.

Workers are now being allowed back into Parliament.

The suitcase was found to have contained clothing and personal items.