Leeds Asda House evacuated as bomb squad rush to ‘suspicious package’ found in mail

Much of Leeds city center has been cordoned off by swarms of police due to a “suspicious package”.

Great Wilson Street, Meadow Lane, Neville Street, Victoria Road and Water Lane were closed this afternoon, Leeds Live Reports.

Cops confirmed that a “suspicious package” was found in the mail at Asda’s head office in the city center, which they said were now electrical items returned by a customer.

A lady who worked in a nearby office said: “It was very scary. All these policemen arrived and closed the road.

“It was all very sudden and we didn’t know what it was about.

“People kept trying to walk on the streets and the police kept pushing them back. “

The situation has now been declared safe after the package was examined by Army bomb disposal experts.

Police were photographed preventing pedestrians from walking in the area.

Reporter Laura Withers at the scene said at the time: “The fire alarm in the BT building has just gone off and they have been told to evacuate.

“Also, I saw police entering the One Embankment building, so I guess they asked them to do the same.

“People are leaving the building.”

The closures affected access to the main junction in Leeds city center, adjacent to Bridgewater Place and Asda’s head office, Asda House, as well as the road before the Neville Street Bridge over the River Aire towards the train station.

A West Yorkshire Police statement earlier today said: “Police are currently grappling with a suspicious parcel incident in Leeds city center.

“At 11:12 am today, police were called with a report of a suspicious package received by post at Asda House in Great Wilson Street, Leeds.

“The staff were evacuated and a cordon was put in place for safety.

“Road closures are in place in the area, including Great Wilson Street and Neville Street, and people are advised to avoid the area while the incident is ongoing.”