New Zealand: Loud bang heard as police, Defence Force investigate 'item of concern'

Witnesses have described hearing a loud bang as police and the New Zealand Defence Force dealt with a suspicious item in Palmerston North.

Police officers closed a section of Pioneer Highway, between Shamrock and Lyndhurst streets, in Palmerston North on Tuesday after an “item of concern” was found on the side of the road about 11am, a police spokesperson said.

A bomb disposal unit and numerous police had been at the scene and officers were looking in one of the trees along the roadside and picking items up from the ground. Traffic was being redirected.