St James's Hospital Leeds: Police given extra time to question 27-year-old hospital terror suspect

By PA reporter
Published 21st Jan 2023, 17:22 BST
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Police have been granted further time to question a man arrested on suspicion of a terror offence after he was allegedly seen with a suspected firearm and a suspicious package at a hospital’s maternity wing.

The 27-year-old man from Leeds is being held at a police station in West Yorkshire and being interviewed by officers. Wards on the Gledhow wing of St James’s Hospital in Leeds were evacuated after the suspect was detained at around 5am on Friday.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of firearms and explosives offences, but police later said he was re-arrested on Friday evening under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

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Counter Terrorism Policing North East said a warrant of further detention was granted on Saturday by Westminster Magistrates’ Court, giving officers until Friday to hold and further interview the man.

A member of the bomb disposal unit wearing protective equipment at St James's Hospital, Leeds, where patients and staff were evacuated from some parts of the building following the discovery of a suspicious package outside the Gledhow Wing (Photo: Ben Lack/PA Wire)A member of the bomb disposal unit wearing protective equipment at St James's Hospital, Leeds, where patients and staff were evacuated from some parts of the building following the discovery of a suspicious package outside the Gledhow Wing (Photo: Ben Lack/PA Wire)
A member of the bomb disposal unit wearing protective equipment at St James's Hospital, Leeds, where patients and staff were evacuated from some parts of the building following the discovery of a suspicious package outside the Gledhow Wing (Photo: Ben Lack/PA Wire)

Police said there are “extensive inquiries ongoing to establish the full circumstances, and explore any potential motivation”. Army specialists and a bomb disposal unit attended the scene on Friday and a cordon was put in place as a precautionary measure.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jim Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “We continue to treat this as an isolated incident and there is still no evidence to suggest there is any heightened or ongoing risk to the public.

“Nevertheless, the UK threat level remains at substantial and we would always encourage the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or behaviour to police in confidence on 0800 789 321 or at gov.uk/ACT.”

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The medical director at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed yesterday that the “critical incident” at St James’s Hospital had been stood down - although police remain on site to continue the investigation. Steve Bush said an emergency patient helpline set up earlier in the day has now been closed, and visiting has resumed as normal across Gledhow wing and Lincoln wing.

He added: “We’d like to thank our patients and the public for their patience and understanding during this matter. We want to wholeheartedly thank our staff and the Emergency Services for their dedication and commitment to ensure we have been able to keep everyone safe.