6 June 2007

Incident at the Canberra Centre

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As of 2pm some kind of incident appears to be occuring centred around the Supabarn carpark in the city, with police blocking access and a heavy fire brigade response including a breathing apparatus support vehicle and a HAZMAT response vehicle.

Wild speculation is most welcome – personally I feel we can’t yet rule out a zombie uprising. Of course, if you have any hard facts on the situation to contribute that’s good too.

[ Update – SGS informs us that “A car caught fire on level two of the carpark above the area which used to be the City Markets.” ]

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Well, if it wasn’t the hospital, I’m glad.
But to hear such a bang in Conder, that’s some distance. Hence, I’m now wondering what or who and with what?

I went down for a walk across the oval at about 7:40 with camera, hoping to get the scoop for the RIOT, but I didnt see anyone officious at all.

Earlier when I came home from work at about 6:15 there were red and blue lights flashing all over the hospital side of the park.

Perhaps some kids have discovered the fun to be had with oxy, acetylene and balloons, and been playing up Red Hill, only they must have found a weather balloon to create the bang that I heard…

Knowing people that work there and a couple who were visiting at the time I Just drove past The Canberra Hospital and observed

– Several regular tankers in attendence, parked about 1/2 way between the Maternity building (from memory) and Gilmore Cres.
-Large truck, either Hazardous materials/breathing gear (or both?)
-Several firies wandering around the sports oval next to Garran Primary School.

Having said that, I couldn’t see any obvious damage from my limited viewpoint from the car. Something definitely went bang _somewhere_ though.

I submitted what was on Win News a story an hour ago.
Was there an actual explosion since then?
Because I sounded like it was all under control the way Win News was talking at 6:05pm.
I did hear a loud sought of rumble and bang at around 7:10 and I’m in Conder. Hell.

Probably needs a new story line of it own, hate to imagine how much damage that one caused

OK, so *that’s* what that was? I FELT the explosion in Hughes (several Km.) Is there a story online?

Something big exploded at Canberra hospital at about 7:15pm.

Poor fire brigade and police were being kept busy today.

Win News (who didn’t say anything about the Canberra Centre fire) reported that people were evacuated from Canberra Hospital due to the risk of an explosion after chemicals became unstable in a lab. Hazmat, bomb squad, police and urban tankers responded.

Also, while driving home today. Urban tankers and hazmat in Narrabundah due to a gas fire. Only a small one in someone’s front yard. Someone dud a little too deep.

And at around 5pm, 3 police cars with sirens on were speeding up Tharwa drive towards the Gordon-Tharwa-Banks round-about.

Speculation on a serial arsonist running amok in Canberra’s CBD anyone? You heard it here first on The RiotACT.

I was at the Canberra Centre (around 1:30 today) when I noticed smoke coming from the old City Markets building site. Three was also a strong smell that was similar to chlorine around the Mac store. I overheard several people asking “is it an attack?” Thinking it was a spill on the site rather than terrorists, I left.

From what I saw, 3 fire pumpers, breathing apparatus support unit, two ambulances and multiple police units attended.

2CC reported in the 4pm news that:
– Fire crews had to extinguish a car that was alight
– 2 security guards treated for smoke inhalation. (did you know that when the plastics in cars burns, it lets off among other things, hydrogen cyanide!) Hope they’re ok.
– A second smaller fire occurred. Seems to be a light caught, well alight.
– Police are investigating the cause of the fires.

Am I imagining it or is the Canberra Centre bringing James Taylor’s song “Fire and Rain” to life. First the place flooded, now it’s on fire. What next?

SGS is my hero.

*hums Team America Aids song*

Samuel Gordon-Stewart3:23 pm 06 Jun 07

Actually no, I know people who work there. Once I saw the RiotACT story I made a phone call and posted the information I gathered (although I had to remember my login details first…this isn’t my usual computer).

You were close though Growling Ferret, it’s the other way around, I’ve passed the information on to 2CC.

Schmerica, as if true-blue tattooed Belco boys would be hanging around Civic! You can catch AIDS just hanging around Civic, don’t you know! 🙂

Growling Ferret3:13 pm 06 Jun 07

I prefer the other explanations to Sam’s. I bet he heard it on 2CC so it must be right.

Tattooed Belconnen boys running rampage after realising their tattoos are crap.

Samuel Gordon-Stewart2:55 pm 06 Jun 07

A car caught fire on level two of the carpark above the area which used to be the City Markets. The fire is now out and traffic is back to normal.

A semi-trailer hit a train crossing the carpark?

Sonic (aka Stanhope) and Mulcahy got into an argument resulting in Sonic punching Mulcahy in the head, and Mulcahy’s puss-filled sideways-turned head exploding allover the car-park.

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