Man charged after bomb hoax and death threats in Southwark

A man in his 40s has been charged with making bomb hoax threats and death threats following a disturbance in Southwark this weekend.

Dennis Pettard, 45, is due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today after being arrested by armed police on Saturday night.

Mr Pettard is charged with racially aggravated disorderly behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress; making threats to kill, and making bomb hoax threats.

Police officers were called to a residential property on Great Dover Street, SE1 shortly before 2.15pm on Saturday where Mr Pettard had refused to leave.

Several roads in the area where blocked off as police, including armed response officers, attended the scene with crews from London Fire Brigade.

A number of nearby buildings were also evacuated as a precaution.

At around 10.20pm armed officers entered the property and safely detained Mr Pettard, who was arrested on suspicion of affray and making threats to commit criminal damage.

A short time later, police cordons were lifted and residents who’d left neighbouring properties as a precaution were able to return home, with no injuries being reported.

Mr Pettard remains in custody at a south London police station until his court hearing today.