From the
Bristol Evening Post:
Bristol train station evacuated after gun joke
Bristol Parkway Station was evacuated by armed police in a security alert sparked when a passenger on a train joked that he was carrying a gun.
The incident happened ... on a London to Cardiff train and involved a 41-year-old man heading to Bristol with more than ^8,000 in cash to buy a car.
The train was in the Didcot area when the man made his way to the buffet car to buy refreshments, police said.
A member of staff at the buffet noticed his wallet was stuffed full of ^50 notes and when she remarked on it he told her he was also carrying a gun.
The woman then alerted British Transport Police, who closed Bristol Parkway Station for about an hour.
Armed police and a helicopter unit from Avon and Somerset also attended and the man was arrested and later cautioned.
Transport police spokesman Brian Price said: "A 41-year-old man was arrested at Bristol Parkway Station on suspicion of money laundering on Friday, September 11. He has since been released without charge. The man sparked a security alert on board the 10.15am London Paddington to Cardiff service after he indicated to a member of train staff that he was in possession of a firearm. He was also carrying a large quantity of cash, which also aroused suspicions. Police were alerted at 11.02am and officers from BTP▸ , assisted by armed officers from Avon and Somerset police, detained the man when the train arrived at Parkway shortly after midday. The station was closed for a short period of time."
Sergeant Mark Harris said: "The man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering but when interviewed it emerged he was legitimately carrying more than ^8,000 to buy a car in the Bristol area and no weapons were found. He apologised for making a flippant comment, which led to armed police clearing the station. He was cautioned for a railway by-law offence for interfering with the comfort of fellow passengers."
