High street reopened after suspect package destroyed

A high street which was cordoned off after a suspicious package was found has been reopened.

A bomb disposal squad destroyed the package using a robot. Picture: Michael Gillen

Main Street, Camelon, in Falkirk, was closed to traffic and pedestrians for a period after 9am.

Police at the scene had told bystanders that a package was delivered which was “being treated as suspicious”.

The bomb disposal squad deployed specialist equipment during the incident. Picture: Michael Gillen.

Army bomb disposal officers were sent to the scene, together with local police and staff from the Scottish Ambulance Service’s National Risk and Resilience Unit.

The package was destroyed in a controlled explosion at about 10:45am, and Main Street, Camelon, together with the court, was re-opened to traffic and pedestrians soon afterwards.

It was later described as being “of no risk to the public”, but still the subject of police inquiries.

Officers said the package was discovered at about 8:40am.

Emergency service teams were called to the incident. Picture: Michael Gillen.

Members of the public were prevented from entering Falkirk Sheriff Court during the incident, while lawyers waiting to represent clients gathered in a nearby cafe.

Camelon Police Station, across the road from the court, was closed and cordoned off, together with a row of shops and offices on Main Street, while buses and other vehicles were diverted via a convoluted route through housing estates to avoid the area.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said afterwards: “Police in Forth Valley can confirm that the suspicious package incident at Camelon Police Station has now been concluded.

The bomb disposal squad deployed specialist equipment during the incident. Picture: Michael Gillen.

“The matter was reported around 8:40am on Thursday, 18 January. Explosive Ordinance Disposal attended and a controlled explosion was executed.

“The contents of the package were subsequently found to pose no risk to the public, however officers are investigating the circumstances and inquiries are ongoing.

“Camelon Main Street has now been reopened. Members of the public are thanked for their patience as officers dealt with this incident.”

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