A portion of Hamilton’s financial district was thrown into chaos yesterday morning after a bomb threat was reported at Butterfield Bank’s Rosebank Centre.

Nearby buildings were evacuated and roads surrounding Bermudiana Road where the bank is located were closed off for several hours as members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit scoured the building.

Staff members from several businesses lined the streets trying to shelter from the summer heat as they waited to hear news.

First responders were on the scene at 9.52am after a member of staff received a phone call, believed to be from a female, saying there was a bomb in the building.

The call centre agent at Butterfield Bank who took the call spoke to The Royal Gazette about her ordeal.

Dawnelle Brangman said a woman called and told her that if she touched her keyboard, the bomb would explode.

“She said that there was a bomb in the building, and she specifically said Rosebank Centre [on Bermudiana Road], and said if you press any keys on your computer, it will blow up.

“I went over to my supervisor and when I came back they were gone.

“I have only been here a year and a half and it was the first drill like this I have had to deal with — I jumped up so fast out of my chair, my co-workers said I looked white like a ghost. They could see that something wasn’t right and so we just got out of the building.”

Bermudiana Road and Par-la-Ville Road were immediately closed as Police and the Bermuda Fire Service carried out emergency procedures. Traffic was later kept off Church Street west of the Queen Street junction and Richmond Road.

The bank, along with nearby businesses HSBC, Clarendon House and the Tiger Esso Gas Station, were evacuated.

The Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit entered the building at about 11.40am, while Butterfield Bank staff were moved to the company’s main office on Reid Street.

Confirming that a threat had come in, police media relations officer Dwayne Caines said the road closures has been carried out in the abundance of caution.

“All persons are accounted for; all protocols are in place,” he said.

The bomb squad scoured all four floors of the building which was reopened at 1pm.

It was the second bomb scare on the Island this summer: on June 1, the Whitney Institute Middle School had to be evacuated after a caller claimed a bomb was inside the building.

An investigation is under way and anyone with information is asked to contact Chief Inspector Calvin Smith on extension 247-1032.