Man arrested and bomb squad explode 'suspect item' after Clydebank tower block evacuated

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The Royal Navy bomb squad has exploded a ‘suspect item’ after evacuating a tower block and forcing a train line to close
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the discovery of the item in a flat in Clydebank on Monday
The man has since been charged in connection with a firearms offence and will appear in court
There was major disruption to train services running through Partick and Hyndland after Dalmuir station was forced to close
The public was urged to avoid the area around Overtoun Court, off Dunswin Avenue

A man has been arrested and the Royal Navy bomb squad has exploded a “suspect item” after evacuating a tower block and forcing a train line to close.

The man has been charged in connection with a firearms offence and will appear in court this week.

Police officers discovered the item while searching a flat in Clydebank’s Overtoun Court on Monday in connection with an ongoing investigation into a man’s unexplained death nearby.

Several homes in the area were evacuated and train services running through Dalmuir Station were cancelled.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were called to the scene to safely destroy the device. Residents were allowed to return home at 2.30am on Tuesday.

A tower block asw evacuated and train line closed after police discovered a suspicious item in Clydebank. STV News

Officers have apprehended a 26-year-old man in connection. He has been charged in connection with a firearms offence and will appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Wednesday, October 30.

Chief Superintendent Gary I’Anson, divisional commander for Argyll & West Dunbartonshire said: “I would like to extend my thanks again to the local community for their patience as we dealt with this incident.

“I understand the inconvenience it will have caused and I am grateful for your cooperation.”

Services running through Dalmuir were cancelled, delayed or revised, ScotRail said, and disruption was expected for several hours.

A tower block has been evacuated and train line closed after police discovered a suspicious item in Clydebank.People have been urged to avoid the area around Overtoun Court, off Dunswin Avenue, which is next to Dalmuir train station. STV News

Network Rail said the incident was caused “major disruption” to all services going through Partick and Hyndland.

On Monday, Police Scotland revealed detectives were searching a property as part of an ongoing investigation when the item was found.

It comes eleven days after a man was found dead in unexplained circumstances in the Dunswin Avenue area. Police Scotland said there is nothing to suggest that the item found in Overtoun Court is linked to the ongoing investigation into the death.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 1.18pm on Monday, October 28 to an incident at Overtoun Court, Clydebank.

“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and one high reach vehicle to the scene where firefighters were on standby to assist emergency service partners.

“Crews were stood down and have now left the scene.”