LONDON (Reuters) – Scottish police closed Crosshouse University Hospital and a main street in Kilmarnock on Thursday as they dealt with what they said were three potentially serious incidents.
The first took place 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 car accident, on the A76 around 8.30pm.
“We can confirm that the ongoing incidents in the Kilmarnock area are not being treated as terrorism-related,” police said.
They said the investigations were at an early stage and the areas were cordoned off. “There is no cause for concern for the wider community,” they added.
Scottish Justice Minister Humza Yousaf advised the public to avoid both Crosshouse Hospital and Portland Street, saying police were involved in a very serious incident.
The Scottish Sun reported that the hospital was closed amid stabbing reports.
Reporting by Derek Francis in Bengaluru and Paul Sandle in London; Editing by Chris Reese and Sam Holmes