Exeter city centre evacuated in bomb scare after discovery of two packages 'with wires coming out'

Two suitcases with 'wires hanging out' are reported to have been found in the city centre

Exeter city centre was evacuated whilst police dealt with a bomb scare this afternoon (Twitter: Sarah Hill)

A school and a mosque have been been evacuated after two suspicious devices with "wires coming out" were discovered this morning, it has been reported.

Suitcases containing suspicious devices were discovered early this morning. A caretaker at St Sidwell’s Primary School spotted one case with ‘wires coming out’ shortly before 7am.

A second package was discovered nearby shortly afterwards at King William Street car park.

Police were called and the school, nearby homes, businesses and a mosque were evacuated.

Explosives experts were called to the scene.

Inspector Gareth Twigg from Devon and Cornwall Police told the Exeter Express and Echo: “We are aware of and have been dealing with two suspicious packages. One has been made safe by bomb disposal teams.

"It wasn’t a controlled explosion, but they’ve got various tactics using air pressure and water pressure. We are in the process of making the second one safe at the moment.

“Once that’s done we’ll still be keeping the cordons in place for some time while we complete some searches of the area to make sure it’s completely safe for people to return.”

He added that searches of residential properties and businesses would continue this afternoon.