THE army’s bomb disposal team was called to a Bournemouth building after a suspicious item was discovered following a fire.

Scores of office workers were moved to safety from the town centre building in Holdenhurst Road on Wednesday, after a fire broke out in one of the toilets.

Now it has emerged the small fire, which was reported on Wednesday morning, may have been started deliberately.

Bournemouth Echo:

One person, a local man, has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

Also, during a subsequent search of the building during Wednesday’s drama, a suspicious item was found.

Dorset Police said: “As is normal when an unknown item is located, the army’s bomb disposal team attended to carry out an assessment. As a precaution and to ensure people’s safety, the building was cordoned off. The item was declared safe at around 8pm.

“From our initial investigations, we can confirm there is nothing at this time to suggest this incident is terrorism-related.”

At this stage police have declined to comment on whether or not the fire and the discovery of the suspicious item are linked, and have also declined to comment further at this stage on what the suspicious item was.

Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan said: “A full and thorough investigation is underway.

“I would like to thank those people and businesses affected by the evacuation for their patience and understanding.”

The building, known as the ‘wedding cake’, is occupied by a number of firms including Abbey Life, McCarthy & Stone and Arthur J Gallagher.

Shortly after the drama unfolded a McCarthy & Stone spokesman told the Echo: “We can confirm there has been a fire on the third floor of 100 Holdenhurst Road. All McCarthy & Stone staff have been safely evacuated and accounted for.”

Staff waiting outside the building on Wednesday morning declined to comment to the Echo.

Six Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue engines from Poole, Westbourne, Christchurch and Redhill Park attended the scene, as well as the aerial platform and the support unit from Hamworthy. The fire was out by the time firefighters arrived.

No-one was injured during the incident.

Yesterday police confirmed a 54-year-old local man had been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.