Qld bomb squad detonate suspicious item

Queensland Police's bomb squad have successfully detonated a suspicious item which was found near a public swimming pool in the state's north.

An emergency order was activated on Friday evening after concerns were raised about a discarded box found in a car park on Fulham Road in Townsville, opposite Heatley Secondary College, earlier in the day.

Fulham Road, Mill Drive, Finerty Street and Lindeman Avenue around the venue were closed off and residents within the exclusion zone were evacuated.

Specialist officers from the Explosive Ordinance Response Team conducted a controlled detonation of the item at 12.50am (AEST) on Saturday, Queensland Police said.

Evacuated residents are now able to return to their homes.

Police are urging the public to contact them if they saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area.