An arts project by a 21-year-old Otago Polytechnic student,
sparked a major bomb scare in Dunedin yesterday - the second
scare in as many days.
Emergency services were called to Green Island at 10.30am,
following reports a number of suspected improvised explosive
devices, were taped to the Koremata St overbridge.
A 100m cordon was placed around the area, nearby residents
were evacuated, and the Southern Motorway southbound lane was
closed and traffic diverted through Blackhead Rd.
The New Zealand bomb squad arrived by helicopter from
Christchurch shortly after 1pm- just a day after they were
called to a bomb hoax at Dunedin International Airport.
Oblivious to the unfolding drama around his home suburb was
third-year Otago Polytechnic student Matthew Wilson, who was
contacted by a family member after they read reports of the
escalating situation.
Mr Wilson said he rang police and identified himself as the
owner of the five devices, which were part of an arts project
he had been working on for a mid-year exhibition.
"When I heard about it, I thought I better contact them."
His devices - drink cans containing pin-hole cameras which
were sealed with duct tape and strapped to the bridge and
nearby road sign - were designed to take a long exposure of
the areas.
Mr Wilson said he had installed the cans on Monday night, and
had hoped the pinhole cameras would be there for six months,
as part of the photographic technique of solargraphy, which
records movement of the sun through a long exposure.
Taken to the cordon area by police, he was surprised by all
the emergency services staff, media, and members of the
public who had gathered around the area.
The cameras were removed, and a sneak peak of one of the
exposures revealed a potential photographic artwork inside ,
he said.
"I hope I can salvage them."
Mr Wilson said he was sorry for wasting police time and did
not mean to spark a major alert.
He had been told the four hour operation would have cost the
taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.
"I thought it was all a bit blown up, but I can see from
their point of view, they did look suspicious."
Dunedin Emergency Commander, Inspector Alastair Dickie, said
police were still investigating whether charges would be
laid.
- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
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