Advertisement

Bern ends Swiss national day on alert as suspicious backpack found near parliament

The Local
The Local - [email protected]
Bern ends Swiss national day on alert as suspicious backpack found near parliament
The Swiss parliament building. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Police in Bern are asking for witnesses after a security operation on the evening of Swiss national day, August 1st, in which a man who may have been armed left a backpack near the Swiss parliament building.

Advertisement

According to a police statement on Wednesday, at around 9.10pm on Tuesday evening police were notified that an armed man had left a backpack at the Cafe Fédéral on Bärenplatz in the centre of the Swiss capital. 
 
Witnesses said the man made threats against the public and then headed in the direction of the Bundesplatz, where the Swiss federal parliament building is located.
 
Police were able to find the man a few minutes later and arrested him.
 
For security reasons, the Bundesplatz, parts of the Bärenplatz and surrounding streets were blocked off by police before a robot device was sent in to secure the backpack.
 
It was finally removed from the scene and taken for further investigation. 
 
The police cordon was removed just after midnight.
 
Police have given no further details about the contents of the backpack, nor have they confirmed reports that the man was indeed armed.
 
Anyone who saw or heard the man at the Cafe or in the Bundesplatz should call police on 031 634 41 11.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also