What were loud bangs in Edinburgh this morning?

Twitter was abuzz this morning with reports of loud bangs in Edinburgh city centre.

Reports came in from across the city of ‘explosions’ and bangs that were shaking some people’s houses between 8am and 8.30am.

Residents in Bruntsfield, Gorgie, Stenhouse, Corstorphine and parts of Leith reported hearing loud noises from 8am onwards.

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Police Scotland confirmed they had received some reports and that the likely explanation was an exercise at Dreghorn Barracks.

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According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), there were scheduled plans for live ammunition to be fired between the hours of 9am and 4pm, along with pyrotechnics being discharged between ‘0001hours and 2359hours’ at the Castlelaw Ranges and Dreghorn Training Area.

The Evening News understands Assault Pioneers were using large amounts of plastic and TNT explosives during the training exercise.

Pioneers are responsible for clearing any obstacles ahead of infantry so soldiers can advance in combat zones.

In a tweet, the army apologised for the noises, saying: “Sincere apologies to everyone in Edinburgh for the bangs this morning. Soldiers in Dreghorn barracks were doing demolitions training.”