Man Charged Following Tower Block Evacuation Triggered by Suspicious Item

A 26-year-old male has been charged with a firearms offense after a “suspect item,” discovered during an inquiry into a man’s death, led to the evacuation of a residential tower block. Occupants of Overtoun Court in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, were instructed to leave their homes on Monday night when an object was found by officers searching the premises. Police Scotland reported that a bomb disposal unit conducted a controlled explosion on the “device.” Residents, who spent the night at the Dalmuir community centre or in nearby hotels, have since been permitted to return to their residences. Emergency services were deployed to the high-rise building shortly after 13:00 on Monday, and the adjacent Dalmuir train station was closed, resulting in cancellations for trains operating through the station. ScotRail confirmed the station has since reopened with services on the line running as scheduled, but issued a warning that services might still be subject to delay, alteration, or cancellation. Forensic officers have been present in the area since October 17, following the unexplained death of a 58-year-old man. Residents of the 15-storey block on Dunswin Avenue were advised to vacate their homes as quickly as possible on Monday after the suspicious item was located and the surrounding area was cordoned off. Police Scotland stated there “was nothing to suggest” a connection between the suspect item and the death. The individual who has been charged is expected to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court at a later date. Police Scotland explained that the decision to evacuate the tower block was made as a precautionary measure subsequent to the discovery of the suspect object. The property was declared safe at 02:30, but police personnel remain at the scene as investigations continue. The exact number of individuals evacuated is not known. The Dalmuir community centre served as a temporary rest centre, with some residents spending the night in a hotel. Chief Superintendent Gary I’Anson commented: “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 spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council stated: “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.” This content is copyrighted by BBC 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.