False alarm at Tesco

Packages found at call centre ‘not intended to cause harm’

Staff received a memo from the firm on April 2 advising them of changes to how they report threats, which the company says “should make it easier for the situation to be easily resolved”.

Hundreds of staff had to leave personal belongings behind as they were evacuated from the office in Baird Avenue just before 1pm yesterday, and police established a cordon.

Workers huddled under umbrellas in the car park before being sent home for the day as explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officers carried out a controlled explosion on two packages which were later found not to pose a threat.

Chief Inspector Nicky Russell, local area commander for Dundee, said: “After examination, I can confirm the packages delivered to Tesco call centre in Baird Avenue, were not intended to cause harm to people or damage to buildings.

“Both Police Scotland and EOD can confirm the packages were not any form of explosive device or simulated explosive device. At no time were the staff or public at risk.

“We take all reports of suspicious packages very seriously and can never be too careful when dealing with incidents of this nature, as public safety is our priority.

“I would like to thank the public for their patience while the incident was being dealt with.”

Tesco maintenance worker Scott Hutchison, 35, said: “The fire alarm went off and everybody came out the building.”

Hugh Ferrey, 47, site supervisor for a decamp for the refurbishment of the building, said: “We were having lunch and we got told to evacuate. We thought it was a fire evacuation but we found out it was more than that.”

Another member of staff said: “We were told there was a suspicious package that had been scanned in the mail room. The building was shut before the bomb squad got there and we were sent home.

“Management didn’t really tell us much, except to basically keep calm. It seemed like every police car and fire service was coming.”

Staff were eventually allowed back into the premises at 7pm. A spokeswoman for Tesco said: “We temporarily closed our customer engagement centre in Dundee and are supporting the police with their inquiries.”

SECURITY was overhauled at Dundee’s Tesco call centre just days before suspicious packages were sent to the building, prompting an allout emergency response.

Tesco staff outside the call centre in Baird Avenue after two suspicious packages were discovered.