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Abandoned packages containing Blind Sports Australia fundraising material brought a Civic block to a close for several hours on Monday night. Two one-metre black containers with red straps prompted police to call in the bomb squad response team and close London Circuit, Marcus Clarke Street and surrounding areas. The packages were first reported around 4.30pm although many in the area said they had been on the site in the morning. The packages were eventually opened around 8.30pm after being inspected for more than an hour. The packages were left between London Circuit and Marcus Clarke Street, and the owners of close to 30 vehicles were told to come back in a few hours once they had been removed. Frustrated car owners were unable to access their vehicles and were told to come back in a few hours once the bomb squad had removed the items. Some took the opportunity to have a meal, others headed back to work. "I noticed the package was there in the morning and I just thought it was something left by someone and didn't think anything more of it," said Cameron Warren, whose car was stranded in the zone "I got here bout 8am and when I first saw the police attending it was about 4.30pm so obviously the majority of the day had passed." At 7.30pm, police extended the exclusion zone further along London Circuit, West Row and Marcus Clarke Street as bomb squad officers began to approach the packages. Technical equipment was used to examine the contents of the package before it was opened by a single officer. Police presence was modest and calm although those who strayed into the exclusion zone were given stern warnings. Buses travelling though the affected areas in Civic were diverted and ACTION transport officers are on site offering assistance to stranded passengers. The packages, which also contained banners and coupons, were eventually placed into a police van and taken away,

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