Bomb hoaxer targets Geneva car show
Police have destroyed a suitcase containing "what looked like" a bomb at the Geneva car show, organisers said.
They evacuated hundreds of visitors after receiving a call threatening to blow up the exhibition venue.
Organisers of the 73th Geneva International Motor Show received a bomb threat at around 10am on Sunday morning.
After an intense search, police discovered a suspect package in the entrance hall of the Palexpo building which is hosting the show. The area was sealed off and visitors were evacuated.
De-mining experts from the local police force then destroyed the suitcase which contained a device that looked like a bomb but contained no explosive charge or detonator.
“We have received a number of threats over the phone during the last 20 years,” said Palexpo spokesman René Lambelet. “This is first time that a bomb threat has been taken so seriously,” he added.
Police have not found those who made the bomb threat.
Some 700,000 visitors are expected to visit the car show, which opened on Thursday and closes on March 16.
swissinfo with agencies
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