A bomb alert sounded in Hamilton yesterday - just 24 hours after hoaxers caused mayhem at the Bermuda Commercial Bank Building.

This time the target was the Government Administration Building on Parliament Street.

Police were alerted after someone called the building at about 3.55 p.m. to say a bomb had been planted.

Staff were evacuated and found Police on the scene taking safety measures.

Officers manned the junctions of Church and Parliament and Reid and Parliament to prevent traffic from travelling in front of the building. Meanwhile, around six officers directed pedestrians away from the street.

Members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) arrived over half an hour after the emergency call was placed to Police Headquarters.

When asked how the EOD worked, Sgt. Michael DeSilva explained to The Royal Gazette that the EOD officers serve in other roles within the service but had the training to manage and defuse such situations.

He added: "Hence the response time is not immediate. That's the reality. And having said that they were here within the hour of the call."

Police spokesman Robin Simmons confirmed that the staff of the Government Administration Building, the General Post Office and Magistrates' Court were evacuated.