Suspicious devices prove to be "innocent" suitcases

The suspect suitcases which brought Exeter to a standstill yesterday contained "old computer materials and electrical wiring".

Police say one person left the suitcases in a skip, and somebody else took them, but abandoned them on York Road and King William Street with "no malicious intent".

The nearby primary school and the surrounding area were closed for around seven hours, with hundreds of homes evacuated, while a Royal Navy bomb disposal squad examined the devices.

Police have found the man responsible for a bomb scare which brought Exeter to a standstill yesterday.

He is described by police as a "local hoarder", who left the two suitcases containing wires and electronics in York Road and King William Street "completely innocently".

The nearby primary school and the surrounding area were closed for around seven hours, with hundreds of homes evacuated, while a Royal Navy bomb disposal squad examined the devices.

Police have confirmed that two suitcases found in Exeter containing wires and electronics were not explosive devices.

But they're still being classed as suspicious devices and an urgent investigation is underway as to why they were left in York Rd outside a school and in King William Street.

An air cannon was used to open one of the suitcases which caused a large boom sound but was not a controlled explosion.

Police are investigating the discovery of two suspicious packages in Exeter.

The first was found in York Road, near Sidwell Street. A number of road closures remain in place.

St Sidwell’s School has also been evacuated. Road closures at York Road on both the Sidwell Street and Longbrook Street entrances are in place.

At around 9.15am today, Monday, 29 June a second suspect package has been found at the King William Street Car Park in Exeter City Centre.

This has resulted in further road closures in the area and evacuation of a small number of local properties.

Exact road closures are currently being confirmed, but congestion in the area is extensive and motorists are asked to avoid the area if at all possible.