A controlled explosion was carried out at a Motherwell tower block being used as a polling station after a “suspicious device” was found.
Glen Tower was evacuated in the early hours of this morning and voters have been asked to cast their ballot in a nearby primary school.
Police have now revealed the device was “non-viable” and the controlled detonation was carried out as a precaution.
All residents are safe but were evacuated during the incident.
Chief Inspector Mark Leonard said: “Officers responded to reports of a suspicious device on the ground floor of Glen Tower flats, Motherwell, around 1am on Thursday, December 12, 2019.
“A cordon was placed around the building and residents within the cordon were evacuated for safety reasons. Police liaised with Explosive Ordnance Device staff to examine the item and a controlled explosion was carried out as a precaution.
“It was to found to be a non-viable device.
“The evacuation of residents within the cordon has now ended and police are working with North Lanarkshire Council to return people to their homes.
“Enquiries are ongoing and we are keen to talk to anyone that may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area around midnight and 1am this morning.
“Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 0127 of Thursday, December 12, 2019.”
One Motherwell voter who turned up at 7.30am to vote in the building’s community area said: “We were turned away and told that we had to use Knowetop Primary School as there had been some kind of police incident.
“There was a man in a hi-vis vest directing people away to the alternative voting place. There was a big police presence with officers and vans there too.”
A North Lanarkshire Council statement read: “Due to a police incident, voters registered to vote at Glen Tower, Motherwell please now attend a polling station at Knowetop Primary School, Knowetop Avenue, Motherwell from 7am.
“All residents are safe and police are carrying out enquiries.”
