Shoppers at a major Edinburgh supermarket were left stunned on Friday evening as a significant armed police response descended on the store following reports of a person with a weapon.
Major Police Deployment at Corstorphine Superstore
The incident unfolded at the large Tesco Extra store on Meadow Place Road in the Corstorphine area. Police were called just after 4:00 pm on Friday, January 9, after concerns were raised for a woman allegedly in possession of a weapon.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of considerable police activity, with multiple vehicles arriving at the superstore. Images from the scene showed a string of officers working at what became a temporary operational scene. Notably, black-clad members of a police armed response unit were deployed amongst regular officers as a precautionary measure.
Arrest and Charges Following Swift Response
The police response led to the swift detention of a suspect at the scene. A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed that a 20-year-old woman was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
The spokeswoman stated: “Around 4.10pm on Friday, January 9, we received a report of concern for a person with a weapon at Meadow Place Road, Edinburgh. Emergency services attended and a 20-year-old woman was arrested and charged in connection and released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date.”
Suspect Released Pending Court Appearance
Following her arrest, the woman was processed and subsequently released from custody. She is now expected to appear in court at a future date to answer the charges brought against her.
The deployment of armed officers, while alarming for members of the public present, is a standard protocol for Police Scotland when a weapon is reported, ensuring the safety of all involved. The situation was brought under control without further disruption reported.
