Did thief blow himself up trying to rob ATM?
A MAN was last night fighting for his life after a cash machine outside a row of shops was blown up.
The 51-year-old was found badly injured near a branch of Premier Stores in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, late on Thursday.
Police confirmed they were following a line of inquiry that the man and an accomplice had been trying to steal from the ATM at the Glasgow Road shopping centre.
The other man apparently ran off after the explosion, which sent chunks of the machine flying into a car park.
He was yesterday being hunted by officers, who have been studying CCTV footage. The injured suspect was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. His condition was described last night as critical.
Local residents reported hearing a loud bang between 11pm and midnight, which one witness described as being ‘like a firework going off’.
The row of shops remained cordoned off by police as they investigated yesterday.
One man, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I feel sorry for the shop owners. They are good people. They are probably losing a lot of business out of this.’
Denis Rozanski, 22, a safety marshal from Clydebank, said: ‘I first heard about it after seeing a fire truck here. These type of things don’t normally happen here.’
Detective Inspector Fiona Macarthur said: ‘Inquiries are at a very early stage to establish the full circumstances and officers are currently examining CCTV as well as speaking to local businesses and residents.
‘I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and saw or heard anything suspicious to please get in touch.
‘Anyone with information is asked to contact Clydebank CID via 101.’
Fire services sent two appliances to the scene just after 11.30pm on Thursday to deal with the blast’s aftermath.
Local Labour councillor Gail Casey said: ‘It’s a terrible thing to happen.
‘I guess it’s a sign of the times when someone, especially in such a deprived area as Clydebank, feels they have to resort to such a crime instead of seeking help. It’s quite tragic that a man has become critically ill from this incident.’
Meanwhile, police are investigating after a suspicious package sparked a major alert in Edinburgh on Thursday.
The cardboard box was found in Princes Street Gardens around 5.40pm.
It was taken to King’s Stables Road where a controlled explosion was carried out at 8.10pm.
A police spokesman said: ‘In the current climate, we are treating this with the utmost seriousness and a full investigation into the circumstances is under way to identify the person responsible.
‘This will require the ongoing presence of officers as investigations continue and we thank the public for their patience.’
Chief Inspector Alan Carson said officers recognised that the emergency services’ response may have caused concerns in the area.
He added: ‘While we conduct these inquiries, a number of local road closures around King’s Stables Road and West Princes Street Gardens will remain in place. Anyone who believes they have information in relation to this incident can contact us.’
‘A terrible thing to happen’