Tenants evacuated after council block blast

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

A homemade explosive device has detonated in a Dundee council tenement building.

Police have described the device as crude but capable of putting lives at risk.

Nobody was hurt in yesterday evening’s blast but the building’s six tenants were evacuated as a precaution. They have since been allowed to return.

The tenement is believed to be sheltered accommodation and is run by Dundee City Council.

Insp David McIntosh, from Tayside Police, said: ''The device appears to be fairly crude and uncomplicated, but irrespective of whether this was intended to be high jinks or something more sinister, there was the very real potential for it to cause significant damage and put lives at risk.

''In the event, and mainly because of the confined nature of the common close, the explosion damaged doors in the block, blowing them open.''

A similar explosion occurred in the area several days ago.

Insp McIntosh continued: ''We have received reports in recent weeks of fireworks-related incidents and loud bangs being heard in the Douglas area.

"Clearly, there is tremendous risk in playing with any type of explosive - including fireworks - and we would urge residents to report any incidents they are aware of or information that they have."

A Dundee City Council spokesman said: "We have offered the six tenants affected any help they may need, but they are all ok at present and have returned to their homes."