Alex Hilbourne, aged 51, of Russell Street, Reading, has been charged with one count of arson with intent to endanger life and two counts of possessing an item with intent to destroy or damage property.
Hilbourne is scheduled to appear at Reading Magistrates Court this morning (Monday, July 27).
The charges against him relate to an incident on Saturday, July 25, where emergency services rushed to cordon off parts of the town centre after discovering ‘suspicious packages’.
Thames Valley Police said they were “made aware” of the first package outside The Botanist bar on King Street/Market Place at around 6pm.
They were alerted to a second package outside McDonald’s on Friar Street at around 9pm, and a third outside the Hope Tap Wetherspoons, also on Friar Street, at around 10.30pm.
Cordons were set up around the “suspicious packages”, and the ‘Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit’ (a squad that deals with bombs and other potential explosives) was called in “as a precaution”, police said, with the packages later safely removed.
Following the news that Hilbourne has been charged, Berkshire West commander Chief Superintendent Felicity Parker said: “I would like to thank the local community for their support and cooperation while our officers and staff have been in the area carrying out vital police work to establish the circumstances of what happened.
“I would like to reassure the public that we are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident and do not believe there to be a wider threat.
“If you have any information which you feel may assist with the investigation then you can report this online or call 101, quoting reference 43260341242.
“If anyone wishes to report anonymously, they can do so by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”