Patient threatens to self harm with petrol and forces Galashiels health complex evacuation
Galashiels Health Centre has been evacuated with a patient inside with a container believed to be filled with petrol, writes Bob Burgess.
Police have sealed off the Currie Road complex in the town centre and fire and ambulance crews are standing by.
Emergency services were alerted at 2.30pm and staff and patients were moved out of the building.
Early reports said the man was armed with a petrol bomb but Lothian and Borders Police say a bomb is not involved.
But they say the man is in possession of a liquid – but would not confirm if it is petrol.
Calum Campbell the chief executive of NHS Borders which operates the centre is at the incident.
He told our reporter at the scene Kenny Paterson that the person inside had threatened to harm himself. He added no staff from the centre were in danger.
Shortly after 4pm a trained negotiator arrived to begin talks with the man who remains inside the building.
Galashiels Health Centre is home to four GP practices and is adjacent to the town’s Tesco and Asda supermarkets.
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Weather for Galashiels
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North east
