GENEVA, Feb. 15 (AP) — Police in the Swiss capital evacuated parliament and related offices on Tuesday after a man wearing a bulletproof vest was arrested near one of its entrances and found carrying explosives.
Earlier in the afternoon, “federal security agents noticed a man at the south entrance of the parliament building wearing a bulletproof vest and a weapon holster – and behaving suspiciously,” Bern police said in a statement.
Read also | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Two women rescued from rubble in southern Turkey… – Latest tweet from Reuters.
“During a subsequent physical examination, a rapid test revealed explosives,” the statement said.
The statement did not provide any details about the explosives.
The suspect, who has not been identified, is undergoing physical and psychological examinations, the statement said. Federal prosecutors and police launched a criminal investigation. There was no immediate indication of a possible motive.
Police cordoned off the ornate parliament building and Federation Square outside nearby streets for several hours while security teams – including fire brigades and demining experts, backed by dogs and drones – were dispatched to inspect a car linked to the blast. Abandoned cars. Suspect.
Security was lifted after the vehicle was confirmed to be non-hazardous, a police statement said.
Switzerland has rarely been in conflict with extremist violence, but federal police often warn of the threat. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
share now