A major Scots bus station was evacuated earlier on Wednesday after a ‘potential suspicious item’ was discovered. Police confirmed three men have been arrested over the incident affecting Buchanan Bus Station.
The Royal Navy bomb squad raced to Glasgow city centre at around 1.10pm on Wednesday, November 20. Glasgow Caledonian University was also evacuated and nearby roads were closed while police investigated the incident.
Here is what we know so far.
What has happened?
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), confirmed the bus station was closed. A spokesperson said: “Apologies all, Buchanan Bus Station is currently closed to passengers while police deal with an emergency incident.
“There is no access to the station for passengers & no buses are entering or leaving the station. We will update you when station reopens. Apologies for the inconvenience.”
The force said: “Three men have been arrested in connection with the incident at Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow, which was reported around 1.10pm today. EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) are at the scene and inquiries remain ongoing.”
Are nearby roads still closed?
Police confirmed earlier this afternoon Killermont Street, which runs along the back of the bus station, was closed to traffic and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area. They revealed later in the afternoon that three men had been arrested following their intial enquiries.
Traffic Scotland announced around 4.47pm a nearby M8 off-slip was closed due to the incident. The traffic intelligence service said junction 16 on the motorway had been closed and motorists were advised to avoid the area. However at 6.33pm the lanes were running despite the police incident ongoing, and people urged to check with bus operators if they planned to use public transport.
What else has the incident impacted?
Buchanan Galleries told the Record the centre remained open today but shoppers were disrupted as the car park exit on Killermont Street was closed and motorists had to use a different exit. The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall has an entrance on the same street and they were forced to cancel an event.
Ticket holders for ‘An Audience with Celtic Legends: Martin O’Neill & Stiliyan Petrov’ were told the meet and greet evening had been cancelled.
A spokesperson said: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, this evening’s event has been cancelled. All ticket holders will be contacted in due course. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Glasgow Caledonian Universitywas also been ordered to evacuate the campus as a precaution.
In an email to students just before 3pm, a spokesperson said: “Due to an ongoing police incident in Buchanan Street Bus Station which is contained, we’ve been advised to evacuate campus as a precaution. Please take your personal belongings with you.
“There is no access to Cowcaddens Road. Staff and students must leave through North Hanover Street, Dobbies Loan or Milton Street. There is no vehicle access to campus from Cowcaddens Road. We will provide further updates at the earliest opportunity.”
At around 8pm the university sent another email to students and said campus remained closed on police advice but they continue to ‘monitor events closely’.
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