A couple’s plan to save money by sending a package unattended on a train to a friend in Sweden, backfired after the package was suspected of being a bomb.
The couple placed the package on the train to Sweden that was waiting to depart Copenhagen Central Station yesterday afternoon.
But after the package was discovered, and passengers overheard the woman asking the man: “Was the package placed correctly?” after disembarking the train, a bomb warning was called in, leading the station to be evacuated and train traffic to be halted for several hours.
After it was examined by a military bomb disposal robot, the package was found to contain a car battery and windscreen wipers.
The couple later contacted Copenhagen Police to explain that they were the ones that had left it on the train.
“The woman explained that her friend in Gothenburg needed the items and they placed the package on the train to save the delivery costs,” police spokesperson Sajja Haider told the Ritzau news bureau. “They had agreed precisely where to leave it on the train so that the friend could find it.”
Haider added that no-one was facing charges.
Update Wednesday, Dec 12, 15:45: Rail operator DSB reports that S-train service has resumed normal operation.
Update Wednesday, Dec 12, 15:25: A package that was found onboard a train to Sweden contained a car battery and windscreen wipers.
Trains are still not running through the station.
Original story Wednesday, Dec 12, 15:18: A bomb disposal robot has been deployed at the Central Station after a suspicious package was found in a train.
"I can confirm that our ammunition clearance team has been given a task in Copenhagen," an Army spokesperson told Berlingske newspaper.
Reports suggest that a package was left in a train on platform five that was headed toward Sweden.
According to Copenhagen Police, a man and a woman were seen boarding a train to Sweden before disembarking soon after.
The woman was reported to be nervous and sweating and was overheard saying to the man, "Was the package placed correctly?" after disembarking.
The police are now looking at surveillance tapes in the hunt for the two individuals.
Trains have stopped running through Central Station and S-trains are turning around once they reach Dybbølsbro, Valby and Østerport stations, while trains from Jutland and Funen are stopping at Høje Taastrup.
Passengers to Sweden or the airport are advised to take an S-train to the closest metro station.
