Leuven railway station reopens as bomb threat turns out to be hoax
A bomb threat that prompted the evacuation of Leuven railway station on Wednesday has turned out to be a hoax. The station has reopened and train services have resumed, according to the Leuven police and rail operator SNCB.
The station had been evacuated since 4 pm, with train services suspended, after several reports were received claiming that a bomb was set to explode there. The police and the public prosecutor's office have launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the false reports.
"Shortly before 4 pm, the public prosecutor's office received several telephone calls reporting that a bomb was due to explode at the station," said police spokesperson Marc Vranckx. "We immediately suspended train services, evacuated the station and established a cordon."
The entire station was then searched with an explosives detection dog. The same procedure was carried out in the underground car park beneath the station and at Martelarenplein. Nothing suspicious was found, and the station, car park and surrounding area were reopened shortly before 6.30 pm.
Throughout the incident, all car traffic in the area was diverted, and De Lijn buses did not stop at the station itself but at a depot nearby. The disruption caused significant congestion. "Our primary concern now is to get traffic flowing smoothly again," said commissioner Vranckx.
The false bomb threat also had a considerable impact on train services, with knock-on effects expected to be felt throughout the evening, SNCB spokesperson Dimitri Temmerman warned. "Leuven is, after all, one of the country's most important railway stations. We advise passengers to check travel information on the SNCB website and via the SNCB app."
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO ELIAS ROM
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