Glasgow university evacuated as police investigate suspicious package

Controlled explosion carried out on device found in mailroom

Several buildings at the University of Glasgow were evacuated on Wednesday after a suspicious package was found in a mailroom.

Police Scotland said they had carried out a controlled explosion on a device sent to the university.

“The package was not opened and no one was injured,” said assistant chief constable Steve Johnson said. “A controlled explosion of the device was carried out this afternoon.”

Edinburgh’s Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) headquarters were also evacuated after a second suspicious package was reported to police. It was later found to be a false alarm and the building was reopened.

Officers cordoned off several roads across the university campus in the Glasgow’s west end. “Police are dealing with the matter and we will provide regular updates,” the university said.

A statement from Glasgow University said: “Police Scotland have advised the university that the incident relating to a suspicious package in the mailroom is now over.

“Minor restrictions will remain in place around the Isabella Elder building and Botany Gate while the mailroom will remain closed for now. All other buildings are being reopened.”

Security officials have said the package found at the University of Glasgow University “looks to be linked” to the three packages found in London yesterday, according to Sky News.

Counterterror officers are investigating packages found at Heathrow Airport, Waterloo station and London City Airport.

Images of the parcel bombs suggested they had been sent from the Republic of Ireland, with false sender's addresses in Dublin written on the outside.

A spokesperson for the Gardai said: “We are assisting the Metropolitan Police with their enquiries.”