Man arrested after suspicious device found in Motherwell flats

A man has been arrested after a suspicious device was discovered at a flat block in Motherwell in the early hours of the morning.

Officers alerted the bomb disposal unit shortly after 1am after they searched an address on Glen Tower and found a potentially explosive item.

Police Scotland confirm a controlled explosion had taken place by the EOD team

Glen Tower was due to function as a polling station in today's General election and voters have now been re-assigned to a different location.

A number of homes surrounding the address were evacuated as a precaution.

Residents were allowed to return to their homes shortly after the controlled explosion took place.

A large cordon has since been lifted.

Police Scotland attend an incedent at a polling station (Tony Nicoletti)

Police Scotland confirmed the arrest of a 48-year-old man and that enquiries are ongoing.

Inspector Mark Leonard said: “Police in Motherwell have arrested a 48-year-old man in connection with a suspicious device found on the ground floor of Glen Tower flats, Motherwell around 1am on Thursday, 12 December, 2019.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 0127 of Thursday, 12 December, 2019.

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, though it was found to be a "non-viable device".