A major shopping centre has been declared safe again after an emergency evacuation earlier in the day had cops rushing to the area.
Shoppers were ordered to evacuate Eastgate Shopping Centre on Spring Street in Bondi Junction but were allowed back in at 11.20am on Monday.
Officers had evacuated the centre as a precaution at about 10.30am after a suspicious package was reported.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and blocked off Spring Street, with reports a suspicious package was left outside the exit of the Coles checkouts.
NSW Police confirmed bomb squads who had inspected the package determined it was not suspicious before the shopping centre resumed its normal operations.
Workers at the mall said security quickly removed them from their stores when the evacuation was declared.
‘They evacuated everyone … we asked what happened and they said there was something suspicious back inside with a wire coming out,’ Kishor Bhatt, 23, who works at Tender Gourmet Butchery, told the Daily Telegraph.
‘It was pretty scary, like the incident before [at Bondi Junction] was stabbing and now a bomb [would’ve been] terrifying.’
Hundreds of shoppers were evacuated from Eastgate Bondi Junction following reports of a suspicious package being left near a Coles supermarket
Eastgate Bondi Junction thanked shoppers for their patience and understanding before it announced the shopping centre had been reopened to the public.
‘We are OPEN! After a brief evacuation earlier this morning, we’re thrilled to welcome you back to enjoy your Christmas shopping at Eastgate Bondi Junction,’ it wrote on Facebook.
‘We’re committed to ensuring the wellbeing of our community, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this short closure.
‘Thank you for your patience and understanding!’
