Asda HQ bomb scare: Army carries out controlled explosion on suspicious package

Army bomb disposal experts have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package sent to Asda’s UK headquarters.

Asda House in Leeds was evacuated on Monday after police were called to the supermarket giant’s offices on Great Wilson Street at 11.16am.

Staff were sent home as police, fire crews and an Army explosive ordnance disposal team descended on the building, with a large cordon thrown around the area.

The Army team later carried out a controlled explosion on the package.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed nobody had been hurt but warned the incident would continue to cause major disruption into the evening rush hour.

A police spokesperson said: “Emergency services are still at the scene and it is anticipated that road closures will remain in place throughout this evening's rush hour causing disruption to traffic.”

Motorists have been urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes.

An eyewitness earlier said workers had been sent home and were not being allowed back into the Asda House car park to collect their vehicles.

Asda said everyone inside the headquarters had been evacuated safely.

The alert comes during a period of heightened security disruption across the UK and Europe, although there is currently nothing to suggest the Leeds incident is connected to any other recent threats.

More than 30 passenger flights across Europe were subjected to bomb threats last week, including aircraft travelling to or from the UK. Heathrow and Birmingham airports also received threats which were assessed as not credible.

Broadcasters have also faced security alerts. Irish broadcaster RTÉ evacuated its Dublin headquarters on Friday, while Sky in the UK and NOVA TV in Bulgaria also reported threats.

No link has been established between those incidents and the alert at Asda House.

Police have not yet confirmed what was inside the package or whether it contained a viable explosive device.