Hotel near G7 summit site evacuated after ‘police find suspicious package’

A bomb threat has been reported at a hotel in Cornwall on the day before the G7 summit is due to start.

The suspicious package was found in Falmouth, around 27 miles away from Carbis Bay where world leaders are due to meet from Friday, June 11.

Police were called at around 3.15am on Thursday, June 10 after it was discovered on the grounds outside the Falmouth Hotel.

Around 100 guests and hotel staff were evacuated from the site.

Falmouth is being used as the main base for the world’s media who will be covering the G7 summit.

According to the Mirror, residents were woken at 4.55am as police officers banged on doors and told to immediately leave the building.

Officers wearing head torches were seen searching bushes and flowerbeds for anything suspicious.

Devon and Cornwall Police later said it was believed to have been a bomb hoax.

The force confirmed the device had been declared not viable, with residents allowed to return to their rooms from around 6.30am.

In a statement, Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were called at around 3:15am on Thursday 10 June following reports of a suspicious package having been located on the grounds outside of the Falmouth Hotel, Cliff Road in Falmouth.

“In order to maintain public safety, the area is currently being safely evacuated as a precautionary measure.

“This will impact on those staying within the Falmouth Hotel, Madeira Hotel and camper vans in the area, as well as neighbouring properties.

“A 100 meter cordon will be put in place and Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal [EOD] are en route to the scene.

“Police remain at the scene and the incident is ongoing.

“We will release more information as we get it.”

In a later statement, a police spokesman added: “Following EOD assessment, the device has been declared not viable and therefore safe.

“In total around 100 people were displaced; these people are now being allowed back into their rooms and the 100-metre cordon is being removed.”

“A smaller scene guard will remain in place until the item is collected and removed by scenes of crime.

“We currently believe that this was a hoax incident and a criminal investigation has been launched.

“We thank the public and those who were evacuated for their assistance.”

Falmouth is around a 40-minute drive from the Carbis Bay Hotel, where leaders from the world’s most powerful democracies will gather for the G7 summit from Friday.

The international media centre had been due to open on Thursday morning.

The G7 summit will see the first meeting between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden.

Other members of the group include Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Italy.

Mr Johnson plans to use it to urge members to “defeat” coronavirus by helping to vaccinate the world by the end of next year.

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