"MichaelJP" wrote in message

Why do the authorities feel it necessary to seal off such a large
area when they have already made the bomb safe and removed the
explosive material?
Someone said that it was so the police could forensically search the
area for stuff the suspect might have dropped. However there have
been no teams of police on hands and knees conducting fingertip
searches or anything like that.

Or is it not really needed at all and its just to make a statement to
the public about how serious it could have been?

Perhaps they want to make sure there aren't any more bombs in the area?