'Dispute' led to bomb scare

Evacuation: Businessman charged with pretending to have explosives outside Law Society

Joseph Dowling - the 69-year-old businessman from Bedfordshire who allegedly threatened to blow himself up outside the Law Society last week - is thought to have had a long-standing grievance against Bedfordshire solicitors Leeds Day.Mr Dowling parked a white van outside the Society in Chancery Lane, London, shortly after 6pm on Thursday last week.

When confronted, he is said to have threatened to blow himself up along with his van.The Society and City firm Denton Wilde Sapte - which has its offices almost opposite - were among those evacuated the whole of Friday.

The incident caused major disruption as Fleet Street was closed.A Dentons spokeswoman said the firm managed by relocating staff to its nearby Fleet Place office, and allowing as many fee-earners as possible to work from home.Society representatives worked closely with the Metropolitan Police for more than 24 hours to bring a peaceful resolution to the incident.

This involved letters being delivered by police caterpillar robots.

At eight o'clock on Friday evening, Mr Dowling capitulated and was then arrested.

No explosives were found.

Appearing before Bow Street magistrates this week, he was charged under section 51 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 with 'placing an article with the intention of inducing in some other person a belief that it was likely to explode or ignite'.

He was released on bail.

Peter Mount, a partner with Sandy-based Leeds Day, said the details of the complaint were complex, and it was now considered by the firm to be closed.

Jeremy Fleming