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Around 200 people were evacuated from a Liverpool city centre building over a bomb hoax.

Police were called to Blackburne House after reports a man phoned up to claim "there are two bombs that will kill many people" at the Grade II listed site.

The Georgian Quarter building was hosting a film screening organised by Jewish Voice for Labour, as well as a writing group and Pilates class.

People took to Twitter just before 7.30pm to claim the Hope Street centre had received a bomb threat.

Several named the showing of film called the The Political Lynching of Jackie Walker as a possible target.

(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, media officer for Jewish Voice for Labour and who helped organise the event, told the ECHO: “So, 15 minutes after the starting of the film, which is called the Political Lynching of Jackie Walker, the young receptionist picked up the phone.

“A man said ‘Is this Blackburne House? Is there a Jewish event going on?’ to which the receptionist said she knew it was a Labour event but she didn’t know if it was Jewish.

“And he said ‘it’s a big Jewish event, I want to say there are two bombs that will kill many people’.

“And then he put the phone down.”

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Following the threat and the evacuation, the screening was later abandoned.

Ms Wimborne-Idrissi added: “We are just gobsmacked.

“We hired extra security tonight because we know our film is controversial but we didn’t expect this kind of trouble.

“And it’s just terrible because it means a film about free speech is being suppressed.”

On her website, Ms Walker describes herself as "a well known Labour activist, anti-racist and vice Chair of Momentum" whose world "exploded" when she "was accused of anti-Semitism [and] suspended from the party".

Tonight, she posted a photo showing two Merseyside Police cars on Facebook, along with the message: "I will not be silenced!!!!"

(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm officers attended Blackburne Place in Liverpool city centre this evening following a malicious call.

“A report was received shortly after 7.20pm that the call had been made and staff at the building evacuated the premises as a precaution.

“Officers then attended and provided advice and reassurance at the scene and are treating the call as a hoax.

“The event organisers have cancelled the event and closed the building.”

He added that enquiries into the incident were continuing and any criminal offences found to have been committed will be fully investigated.

*Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter (@MerPolCC) or Facebook (Merseyside Police CC). You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 18200202598 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online/