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Man charged after suspect item led to tower block evacuation

BBC Exterior of a tower block with a police car parked in front and a small area cordoned off by police tape at the front of the buildingBBC
A bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion on the suspect "device"

A 26-year-old man has been charged with a firearms offence after a "suspect item" found during a investigation into a man's death led to the evacuation of a tower block.

Residents of Overtoun Court in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, were evacuated on Monday night when an item was discovered by officers searching the property

Police Scotland said a bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion on the "device".

Residents, who spent the night in Dalmuir community centre or nearby hotels, have been allowed to return to their homes.

Exterior of tower block in the early morning with one police car parked outside and police tape cordoning off an area in the front corner of the building
Police said there 'was nothing to suggest' the suspect item was linked to the death

Emergency services were dispatched to the tower block just after 13:00 on Monday and nearby Dalmuir train station was closed, causing cancellations to trains running through the station.

ScotRail said the station had now reopened with services on the line running as scheduled, but warned services may be subject to delay, alteration or cancellation.

Forensics officers have been in the area since the unexplained death of the 58-year-old man on 17 October.

Residents of the 15-storey block on Dunswin Avenue were told to leave their homes as quickly as possible on Monday after the suspect item was found and the area was cordoned off.

Police Scotland said there "was nothing to suggest" the suspect item was linked to the death.

The charged man is expected to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court in due course.

Police Scotland said the decision to evacuate the tower block was taken as a precaution following the discovery of the suspect object.

The property was declared safe at 02:30 but police remain at the scene while inquiries continue.

It is not known how many people were evacuated.

Dalmuir community centre served as a rest centre with some residents spending the night in a hotel.

Ch Supt Gary I'Anson 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."

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: "We are fully supporting residents who have been evacuated from their home as a result of this incident and continue to liaise with relevant services."