The hoaxer behind two purposely planted fake bombs found in the public toilets of a Hamilton park is growing more elaborate in their fakes and is brazenly taunting police.

The second item discovered in a cubicle at Gower Park on Tuesday was more elaborate than the first fake bomb using a pipe and wiring.

It was accompanied by a note, stuck to the door of the women's toilet, which was understood to be a taunt to police with reference to Monday's incident,

Gower Park and surrounding Sandleigh Rd were cordoned off for hours on both days after the Auckland-based bomb squad was called in to deal with suspicious items found by a Hamilton City Council employee who works the park.

Both had been purposely made to look like explosive devices that could be detonated and due to the note and same location police believe they are linked, said Detective Senior Sergeant Matthew Cranshaw.

"Monday's item was a piece of pipe with some wire sticking out of it and the item yesterday was somewhat more elaborate, in that there was an as-yet-undetermined liquid incorporated."

Because police didn't know what the liquid was it was treated as flammable and destroyed by the bomb squad using a robot and manual approach.

"Police take all incidents involving suspicious items seriously and as such we divert a significant number of resources into ensuring the public are kept safe, while we resolve the matter."

Waikato CIB had now launched an investigation but Cranshaw said it is too early to say who was behind the hoaxes and what their motive was.

What was clear, police said, was that the two incidents this week were not linked to two previous bomb scares in the Hamilton CBD this month.

A suspicious package discovered by staff at the ANZ building in Ward St last week shut down the Centreplace shopping mall and evacuated city workers for hours.

It appears to be linked to a bungled attempt to rob the bank

Cranshaw was able to confirm the item located had been left behind by someone attempting to gain access to the fast deposit boxes.

"It had a cord attached and as it was out of place, it was rightly treated as suspicious and police were contacted."

A scare at the IRD building on June 5, which prompted the bomb squad callout, was a suitcase containing paperwork which had been accidentally left in the building by someone visiting the centre the day before.

Even though the items at Gower Park were a hoax, police were urging the public to be extra vigilant and report any items that look out of place or unusual.

"The actions taken by the members of the public who located these items over the past few weeks were absolutely the right thing to do.

"If anyone finds an item that they don't know the contents of and it shouldn't be there, evacuating the area and calling police is what they must do. It is better for police to make an assessment of how to deal with the item." said Cranshaw.

Hamilton City Council City Safe Manager, Kelvin Powell, said council had been informed of the discovery by an employee but would not comment on whether security had been increased as a result.

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker said council had good security at all public places and events of the last few weeks were seemingly "random".

"The toilets are locked and checked every morning and that will continue. From what I understand activities at the park seem to be continuing as normal, I don't think it is having an impact on Hamilton and people are going about their daily lives."

This was the first time Hardaker had experienced bomb scares in the city in her five years as Mayor. She urged any residents to be vigilant.

"Whenever people find anything suspicious in public places they should contact council. We are confident that everyone that needs to be done is being done."

Cranshaw said the person responsible could face a range of criminal charges under section 145 of the Crimes Act for being a "criminal nuisance who does any unlawful act that could endanger the lives, safety, or health of the public, or the life, safety, or health of any individual".

That could include paying reparation to police for the costs of the investigation.

Anyone with information or who has seen anyone acting suspicious around the Gower Park area over the last few days is asked to call Hamilton Police on 07 858 6200 or anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.





