Buckie Harbour locked down following discovery of ‘suspicious object’

It is the second time in just a month bomb disposal experts have travelled to the north east harbour.

By Michelle Henderson

April 5 2024, 4:17 pm

Police and bomb disposal experts were called to the scene earlier this afternoon. Image: Jasperimage.

Bomb disposal experts were scrambled to Buckie Harbour today following the discovery of a ‘suspicious object’.

Emergency crews placed a cordon around pier two and three following the alert, with police and coastguard teams standing guard as bomb disposal experts made their way north.

Members of Edinburgh Troop, 521 EOD Sqn, 11 EOD and Search Regiment RLC were tasked to the Moray harbour, arriving at around 5.30pm.

A man in army uniform onboard a white and red boat. — Bomb disposal experts arrived at the scene at around 5.30pm tonight to assess the object. Image: Jasperimage.

Upon arrival, officials assessed the object – determining it to be a 20mm cartridge case.

Cartridges of this nature found in similar situations are often found to date back to WW2.

Individuals dressed in military uniform and fluorescent yellow coats stand at the pier. — Crews sealed off the Buckie Harbour as they worked to determine the nature of the object found near the pier. Image: Jasperimage.

The item was removed from the scene and will be disposed of at a later date.

Buckie Harbour was locked down just last month

Work has been ongoing at the site to improve the depth of harbour.

It is the second time in just a month Buckie Harbour has been locked down following the discovery of a suspicious object.

Police car sits at pier two at Buckie Harbour. — Police cordoned off Pier two at Buckie Harbour. Image: Jasperimage.

Several police vehicles and coastguard teams were called to the scene, as were a bomb disposal team, on March 18.

The item turned out to be a harmless marker buoy,

In relation to today’s incident, an army spokesperson told The Press and Journal: “We can confirm that on April 5, Edinburgh Troop, 521 EOD Sqn, 11 EOD&S Regt RLC, responded at the request of Police Scotland to a suspect item of ordnance.

Buckie Harbour was sealed off while experts established what the object was. Image: Jasperimage, taken March 18

“The EOD team assessed the item and determined it to be a 20mm cartridge case, it was removed from the scene for later disposal.”

In an earlier statement, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 1.05pm on Friday, April 5, we received a report of a possible ordnance found at Buckie Harbour.

“Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been contacted.”