On the morning of Monday, April 27, 2026, a security incident unfolded at the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s headquarters in St. John’s that prompted a full-scale emergency response, after officials received an anonymous bomb threat targeting the building.
According to official statements from the force’s Office of Strategic Communications, the threatening call came in just before 10 a.m., when the unknown caller claimed an explosive device had been hidden inside the police headquarters. Acting rapidly to prioritize the safety of all personnel and visitors on site, police leadership immediately triggered standard evacuation protocols, ordering every person inside the premises to exit in an orderly fashion. The evacuation was completed without any injuries or security complications, moving all occupants to a safe distance away from the building.
Immediately following the evacuation, the force’s specialized Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team was deployed to sweep the building and its adjacent surrounding areas, with additional support from the police K-9 unit trained in explosive detection. After completing a comprehensive, room-by-room search of the entire facility and surrounding grounds, the EOD team confirmed that no explosive devices or suspicious materials matching the caller’s description were found. With the all-clear officially given, the headquarters was reopened, and all regular police operations resumed as scheduled shortly after the incident.
Senior leaders with the Royal Police Force have issued a strong condemnation of the deliberate hoax, noting that the false threat created unnecessary public anxiety, disrupted critical law enforcement operations, and wasted valuable emergency response resources that would otherwise be available for legitimate threats to public safety. Officials emphasized that hoax bomb threats are classified as serious criminal offenses under Antigua and Barbuda law, and those responsible will face full legal consequences if apprehended.
The force’s Criminal Investigations Department has already opened a formal investigation to trace the caller and identify the individual responsible for the incident. Police are now appealing to members of the public who may have any relevant information that could assist with the investigation to come forward. Tips can be submitted directly to the CID hotline at 462-3913, or shared anonymously via the independent Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477). All information provided will be kept strictly confidential, according to police officials.