A man has been arrested after threats sparked a lockdown at the Royal United Hospital.
Firearms officers and paramedics wearing body amour were deployed to the scene in Combe Park, Bath, at around 10.15am this morning (Friday).
It followed two phone calls made to the hospital, reportedly threatening the lives of staff.
A man was then spotted on the site, with concerns raised over an item he was carrying – which appeared to be sword-like.
Now, officers have arrested a man, aged in his 40s, on suspicion of threatening communications and he is in custody for questioning.
However, they are yet to establish whether or not he was earlier armed with a weapon.
In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: “A man has been arrested in connection with an incident at Royal United Hospital in Bath earlier today (Friday 2 February).
“Police attended after a report by hospital staff of a man making verbal threats by phone.
“A short time later there was also a report of a man in the area carrying an unknown item, which the informant was concerned may have been a bladed weapon, but this is not something that remains unverified.
“The hospital decided to go into a lockdown and we advised a nearby school to take a similar precautionary measure. Both lockdowns were lifted in the early-afternoon and access to both the hospital and school are now unrestricted.
“We have arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of threatening communications and he is in police custody.”
