Freedom New Zealand

Three bombs exploded in Parliament yesterday, but they were all set off to assist military training. The army's bomb disposal unit conducted an exercise in the alleyway between the Beehive and the old Parliament Building.

Three times the unit rolled out its robot and personnel wearing full protective clothing to deal with planted suspicious packages which were then detonated, to the amusement of many parliamentary staff.

Security staff told NZPA that the work by the bomb disposal unit was not due to any heightened concerns, but part of a planned series of exercises. Since the attacks of September 11, Parliament has increased security measures to include screening of visitors and stricter policing of identity passes - NZPA.