Controlled explosion carried out after 'suspicious' item found in mosque

The item was later found to be innocent in nature, and 'posed no danger to the public'.

Controlled explosion carried out after ‘suspicious’ item found in Edinburgh mosque iStock

A controlled explosion was carried out by bomb squads on Tuesday, after reports of a suspicious item in an Edinburgh mosque.

Emergency services were called to the religious site on Potterrow at around 9.30am on Tuesday.

The mosque issued a statement shortly after, saying that police advised the building be evacuated after reviewing CCTV.

Potterrow and Nicolson Square were closed to pedestrians and traffic.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team attended the scene to and carried out a controlled explosion, police said.

The item was later found to be innocent in nature, and “posed no danger to the public”.

The cordon has now been lifted.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.30am on Tuesday, January 3, police were called to a report of a suspicious item found within a Mosque on Potterrow, Edinburgh.

“A cordon was put in place as a precaution. The EOD attended and carried out a controlled explosion, however it has been established that the item posed no risk to the public and was innocent in nature.

“The cordon has now been lifted.

“Police would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding as officers attended the scene.”

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