Art project sparks another bomb scare

Matthew Wilson, 21, shows the devices which sparked a bomb scare. Photo / Otago Daily Times

An arts project by a 21-year-old student sparked a major bomb scare in Dunedin yesterday - the second scare in as many days.

Police were called to the Green Island at 10.30am, following reports that 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 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 - cola 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's time and did not mean to spark a major alert, and 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 deciding whether charges would be laid.

Investigations are continuing into the bomb scare which paralysed Dunedin International Airport for five hours on Thursday.

More than 300 passengers had their travel plans disrupted, including many trying to make international connections, when a hoax bomb was found in a toilet.

Detective Sergeant Neil Lowden, of Mosgiel police, said CCTV footage was being reviewed, as was forensic evidence taken from the scene, and interviews with witnesses were continuing.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES