Popular Fitzroy Bar To Sue Patron Who Called In Bomb Hoax

A popular bar and eatery in Fitzroy is suing a drunken patron who called in a bomb hoax on New Year's Day, News Limited reports.

Bimbo Deluxe was evacuated for thirty minutes from 11.30pm on 1 January after a Preston man reportedly saw a "if you see something, say something" poster and phoned in a bomb threat, afterwards telling bar staff what he had done.

He tried to explain it was a joke but the bar was evacuated within two minutes, with the bar manager stating financial losses were "quite substantial, as you can imagine". The bar will be pressing charges for damages caused to trade on the eve of a public holiday.

The drunken man was taken away by police and is due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 27 April.

An onlooker told Herald Sun, "He phoned the number on the sign and then went up to the bar staff to let them know what he had done. His friends said it was a drunken thing.

"Seeing a young kid get taken away in a cop car was a bit confronting. The look on his face was one of deep concern.

"Everyone was going through a procedure, so it felt like a school fire drill," he told the newspaper.