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Asda offices evacuated due to 'suspicious package'

Flora Grafton and David SpereallYorkshire
Emergency services and an Army bomb squad crew are at the scene in Leeds

Asda's head office building has been evacuated after a "suspicious package" was discovered.

West Yorkshire Police received reports of the item having been sent to Asda House, on Great Wilson Street in Leeds, at about 11:15 GMT on Monday.

An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended the scene and carried out a controlled explosion on the package.

Emergency services remain at the scene, with roads around the building expected to be closed throughout rush hour on Monday evening.

Video footage from the scene earlier showed a bomb disposal device being wheeled out of the back of an Army truck towards the premises.

A spokesperson for Asda confirmed the building had been evacuated safely.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Motorists are advised to avoid parts of Leeds city centre for the coming hours due to the ongoing incident in Great Wilson Street.

"Nobody has been harmed as a result of this morning's incident and there is no wider threat to the public.

"Roads affected include Victoria Road, Meadow Lane, Neville Street, Bridge End and Great Wilson Street."

Malik Walton/BBC A parked bomb disposal van on a roadside. Figures in Armed Forces camouflage uniforms are standing in the back of the vehicle. A police officer walks towards the van. In the far distance a police van sits behind some police tape stretched across the road.Malik Walton/BBC
Roads are closed around the scene as an Army bomb disposal team continues its work

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