Passer-by finds guns cache dumped behind library

The weapons were discovered in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, and were last night being forensically examined by officers.

Police would not say how many guns were discovered or whether they were handguns or shotguns.

Strathclyde Police said they could not confirm any link to the gangland execution of Kevin Carroll in a supermarket car park earlier this month.

Carroll, 29, was shot dead while he sat in the back of an Audi car outside the Asda store in Robroyston, Glasgow, on 13 January.

He was said to have had links with the criminal underworld and survived an attempt on his life three years ago.

Police are hunting three masked men who sped from the scene of the shooting in a Volkswagen Golf. The burnt-out vehicle was later found dumped in Airdrie, just a few miles from where the guns were discovered today.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "We can confirm that at about 10:55am, firearms were found at the rear of Coatbridge Library."