Bomb squad scrambled to busy Edinburgh street and buildings evacuated after ‘suspicious’ bag found
COPS locked down a street in Edinburgh and buildings were evacuated after a ‘suspicious’ bag was found.
Emergency crews raced to the capital’s Princes Street at around 5:30pm this evening.
The alarm was raised after cops received a report of a man acting suspiciously.
A bag was later found nearby and a cordon has been put in place as a precaution.
Hundreds of onlookers from local offices and shops watched on while a specialist response team from the Scottish Ambulance Service and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service raced to the scene.
Several roads in the area have been closed and buses are being diverted away from the area.
A statement from Network Rail read: “Due to the ongoing police incident on Princes Street, Edinburgh Waverley can only be accessed via the Market Street entrance.
“All train services are operating normally. Please speak to railway staff if you need any assistance or advice.”
It is understood guests have also been evacuated from the Balmoral Hotel.
One onlooker said: “The place is full of emergency services and the bomb squad are outside the TK Maxx shop.
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“The cops have put up lots of cordons and local restaurants and pubs have been evacuated.
“There are a few hundred people street watching it all going on.”
Sheila Weatherston, 45, was due to meet her husband for dinner at a nearby pub.
She said: “My husband was in the pub when the police went in and told them all to leave.
“He is now at the other side from me.
“It’s quite frightening when you see all the services and the bomb squad.”
Shop worker John Lipscombe, 56, had just finished his shift when the incident started.
He said: “I saw the police looking at a bag but I thought nothing of it.
“I went into one of the shops and when I came out there were more cops on the street.
“Suddenly they were clearing the area and getting people away from the area.
“They wouldn’t say what it was for our safety.
“There were people evacuated from offices all standing in the streets watching.”
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A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 5.30pm on Thursday, 10 November, 2022 officers were called to Princes Street, Edinburgh to a report of a man was acting suspiciously.
“A bag was later found nearby and a cordon has been put in place as a precaution. Officers are in attendance and have called EOD.”
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