Police were called after an elaborate safety drill conducted by a leading investment bank caused neighbouring tenants to panic upon finding a fake bomb, reveals AFR's Rear Window.
Two weeks ago, in the lead up to the G20, the Deutsche Bank decided to conduct a security drill. Rather than opt for the classic siren and evacuation plan, they kitted out their building with four suspicious boxes that had been designed to resemble sophisticated explosive devices.
They spread the boxes throughout the Investa tower in the heart of Sydney's CBD: in the lobby, in the loading dock, in the childcare centre and also in the Bank of Queensland offices on level nine.
Unfortunately, the co-ordinating team failed to warn either the building owner or their fellow tenants.
So when a female employee at the Bank of Queensland discovered a strange box concealing what appeared to be a complex explosive device when entering her office, she alerted security.
The building was evacuated and police poured into the building around 11.30am. Shortly afterwards, they trooped out shaking their heads in disbelief.
A spokeswoman for building owner Investa confirmed there was a security lockdown at Deutsche Bank Place on November 13.
"The lockdown occurred as a result of a security test undertaken by a building tenant," the spokeswoman said.
"At no stage during the test or the lockdown was the building or its occupants at risk or in danger."
She declined to name the tenant who initiated the security drill but added the tenant had apologised and they maintained a good relationship with them, not withstanding the security test.
Deutsche Bank declined to comment.
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