Suspicious package found at consulate in Bali

Bomb squad was called to the offices in Denpasar at about 2.30pm local time (4.30pm AEST) today after a man who had visited the building earlier in the day left behind a small bag.

Police closed the road outside the building for 30 minutes while the bag was removed to another location for further examination.

The bomb squad was still examining the bag and had yet to confirm if it contained explosive material.

The head of the Bali Police Mobile Brigade, Ramdani Hidayat, said security at the consulate alerted authorities after the man, described as a "foreign citizen", began acting in a suspicious manner.

"The people who were in the consulate at the time continued working," he said.

He added that people who needed access to the consulate were invited to get advice by telephone because police had closed the street outside.

Police said the bomb squad and a sniffer dog were called to the scene and the package was removed for analysis.

The package had been left at the gate earlier in the day by a man identifying himself as an Australian teacher, police said.

"He was asking where to dispose of chemical waste. I explained to him that there's no such place for such disposal here," security guard Irwan Saputra said.