LONDON (Reuters) – Police in Scotland on Thursday closed Crosshouse University Hospital and a main street in the city of Kilmarnock while treating what they said were three potentially related serious incidents.
The first occurred outside the hospital at 7.45pm, Scottish police said, followed by a second about 20 minutes later on Portland Street and the third, a serious traffic accident on the A76 road towards 8:30 p.m.
“We can confirm that the ongoing incidents in the Kilmarnock area are not being treated as terrorists,” police said.
They said the investigations were at an early stage and the areas have been cordoned off. “There is no cause for concern for the community at large,” they added.
Scottish Justice Minister Humza Yousaf advised the public to avoid both Crosshouse Hospital and Portland Street, as police were witnessing a very serious incident.
The Scottish Sun reported that the hospital was closed amid reports of stabbing.
Report by Derek Francis in Bengaluru and Paul Sandle in London; Editing by Chris Reese and Sam Holmes