Police call in army to investigate bomb alert

A BOMB hoax which saw part of Gayfield Square closed off is being investigated by police.

Army bomb disposal experts based at Craigiehall in Edinburgh were called out just after 9am yesterday, after police were alerted to a "suspicious package" in the area.

The area – just opposite Gayfield Police Station – was taped off by officers, who also attempted to keep rush-hour commuters waiting for buses as far back from the scene as possible.

Officers were seen at one point stopping a man and searching his backpack, although it was not clear whether he had any connection to the incident.

Within half an hour, however, the army experts had determined there was no threat, and the square was opened up.

The incident is now being treated as a hoax call, as the person who initially reported the package did not give a name.

Officers said they could not discuss details of what exactly was found at the scene, but said it was not suspicious, and so they felt this was a malicious hoax.

A police spokesman said: "Lothian and Borders Police responded to the Gayfield Square area of Edinburgh around 9am following reports of a suspicious package.

"The Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit were also in attendance before the incident was confirmed as a hoax.

"Inquiries are now ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the package's discovery."

Local resident David Ness was among those caught up in the hoax, after police sealed in his car.

The self-employed 27-year-old was heading to work when officers told him to get out of his car and move into the park.

Mr Ness, who had to use an old T-shirt as an emergency lead for his chocolate Labrador Oscar, said: "They wouldn't say what was happening, but told me just to leave the car where it was and leave the area, and they said they would call me when I could go back.

"I've never known anything like it round here, but they didn't evacuate any residents so I think it was just because I was on the street. I couldn't see any suspicious packages or anything like that near my car, so I was a bit baffled when they asked me to leave.

"I didn't have a lead with me for the dog, so I just had to use a T-shirt to stop him running off."

An army spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that police called in the army bomb disposal team to attend an incident at Gayfield Square, but having assessed the scene they determined there was nothing of any concern there.

"They were essentially called on for their expertise at spotting possible devices, but this would appear to have been a hoax."

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.