Frightened Glasgow residents returning to their homes have been given police escorts as their buildings were evacuated by an ongoing bomb threat in the area.
Officers responded to reports of a suspicious package being found in a premises on Milnbank Street, near Alexandra Parade in the east end of the city.
The building where the discovery was made had been evacuated along with nearby premises at around 3pm this afternoon.
Police Scotland cordoned off Alexandra Parade and were joined at the scene by EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
Some residents returning home after work have been allowed to re-enter their homes in the area.
One resident, who did not wish to be named, said an officer had approached her as she returned home not knowing about the events which were taking place.
She told the Record: "I was coming home in a taxi and the police asked me whether I wanted an escort home if I was scared.
"I had to climb under the cordon to get home. I'm right in the middle of Alexandra Parade so I can see most of it.
"My neighbour had been in earlier and he told me that some residents had been evacuated and some of the shops next to the Co-Op."
She added that around 20 police officers remain guarding the Parade and a helicopter has been seen overhead since around 6.15pm.
It is understood evacuated residents are being looked after at a nearby school repurposed as an emergency centre by Glasgow City Council in response to the incident.
Around 30 residents are currently being looked after at Whitehill Secondary School nearby.
However, council sources expect this figure to rise as people return home from work and elsewhere.
The local authority has rallied health and social care and catering staff to support the locals while they are unable to return to their homes.
The M8 was closed from both directions between J15 and J12 as a result of the incident but reopened at around 6.15pm.
However, Traffic Scotland warned in a tweet: "Congestion will take time to ease. Please be patient and #ExpectDelays."
They also confirmed queues westbound from J10 and eastbound from J25 and on the M80 southbound from J2.
Some people said they had been stuck in traffic for around four hours.
Bus services were also disrupted with First Bus Glasgow diverting the 38, 38A, 38B, 38C, 38CC and 38E via Wishart Street, John Knox Street, Duke Street and Cumbernauld Road in both directions.
Stagecoach warned on Twitter services impacted included the #X19, #X25, #X25A and #X28 - all diverted via Alexandra Parade.
Services will be unable to serve any Stirling Road stops for now.
There are also reports trains travelling to Alexandra Parade train station have been diverted and there is a police presence outside the station.
Chief Inspector Scott Simpson said: "We were called around 3.30pm on Thursday, 27 January, 2022, to a report of a suspicious package found within a premises on Milnbank Street in Glasgow.
"Officers are in attendance and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) have been contacted. The premises has been evacuated, a cordon has been put in place and the M8 has been closed between junction 14 and junction 15.
"The motorway is likely to be closed for a period of time so road users are advised to use alternative routes where possible."
The SFRS have also been contacted for further comment.
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