Hoax Caller Being Hunted

On Sunday evening the Brighton Centre and Grand Hotel were both evacuated for several hours after an anonymous phone call was received at the hotel at 4.30pm on Sunday alleging there was an explosive device there.

Hotel management alerted Sussex Police and decided to evacuate the building on King’s Road.  The A259 was shut by Sussex Police in both directions between the aquarium roundabout and the i360.

A spokesman from Sussex Police said in a statement that “The search of the Grand Hotel had ended at 9.15pm on Sunday evening without anything suspicious being found, and staff and guests began to re-enter the hotel.”

The search of the hotel was carried out by trained police search advisers, police dogs, military ordnance disposal experts and some police dogs.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) who are holding their annual conference at the Brighton Centre this week were also evacuated although it was not at threat according to the spokesman from Sussex Police.

Sussex Police have confirmed that nothing untoward was found and the call is therefore being treated as a hoax. Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell said that no details of the call would be disclosed but “certain lines of enquiry are being actively followed.”

By Clare Calder