Fake bomb sparks major alert in EK Village

Aug 5 2009 East Kilbride News

A MAJOR bomb alert in a busy Village street ended in relief after the suspicious device was found to be a fake.

Scores of residents were evacuated from their homes amid dramatic scenes on Tuesday after council workmen discovered what looked like a flashing bomb and a handgun in a Main Street flat.

Royal Navy bomb disposal experts complete with a remote controlled robot swooped on the property as dozens of police officers sealed off the area and stood guard.

The occupant of the flat, a middle-aged man, was brought to the scene for questioning before the disposal team entered the building and emerged with items in a blue bag.

An examination of the contents found them to be fake and the man was taken to East Kilbride police station.

Council worker Stevie Convery, 29, discovered the disturbing device after he and colleague Derek McDade, 23, forced entry into the flat in order to carry out a gas safety check.

Stevie, son of local councillor Gerry Convery, told the News: “I looked at Derek and asked him what he thought it was, and then he looked at me and asked what I thought it was. We paused for a second then both turned and ran straight back out the door. I was terrified. I thought the building was about explode at any second."

He added: “The house was a total mess. There was a load of wires in the kitchen attached to a device with flashing lights on it which was hooked up to the boiler."

A resident of Main Street, who asked not to be named, said: “Everyone was really scared, I’ve never seen so many police in one place. Before the disposal experts turned up we all thought it was a real bomb. The rumour is that the guy was planning some sort of joke but it’s not my idea of humour.”

Inspector Julie Edward of East Kilbride Police said: “At about 10:20am we received a call from South Lanarkshire Council informing us that their workmen had found a suspicious device in a house in Parkhall Street.

“Police attended and the decision was made to evacuate the immediate area and cordon off roads until the householder could be traced.

“The Royal Navy bomb disposal team was summoned to attend and the device was thereafter made safe.

“The householder is helping police with their enquiries.”

An SLC spokesman said: “The suspicious package that has been referred to was found when gas safety checks were being carried out. It was a forced entry into the premises which we have to do by law.”