Chemical odour reports in city centre prompts building shutdown

Police Scotland said inquiries into the smell were ongoing.

Chemical odour reports in Edinburgh city centre prompts building shutdown iStock

A building in the centre of Edinburgh was closed off by police on Tuesday after reports of a chemical odour.

The smell, in the Cowgate area of the capital, was detected shortly before 11am on October 18 and prompted a response from the emergency services.

Police, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service were in attendance as the building was closed off, but there were no reports of anyone being affected by it.

Police Scotland said inquiries into the smell were ongoing.

A spokesperson said: “The area of the building has been closed off and there are no reports of anyone being affected.”

A spokeswoman for SFRS said appliances were in attendance assisting officers in what she described as a police incident.

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