Officers have sealed off the area where the explosion took place Police are continuing to investigate possible terrorist activity after an explosion in a Scottish woodland.
Anti-terrorism officers and bomb disposal units have sealed off an area in Garadhban Forest, near Gartocharn, at the south of Loch Lomond.
Officers were called to reports of an explosion on Wednesday and discovered a blast zone in an area of trees.
There are reports other devices may have been found and that MI5 are involved in the investigation.
Strathclyde Police are investigating damage to trees in the woodland area about 300 to 400 yards from Ross Priory, a secluded 19th Century building to the south east of the loch.
The area is being guarded by police in fluorescent jackets and the narrow lanes which wind through a series of villages are busy with police cars, vans and motorbikes.
Shop and hotel owners in at least one village were contacted by police who urgently wanted to view their CCTV footage.
Specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police and explosives experts have been drafted in to help Strathclyde Police and the man in charge of the operation has refused to rule out the involvement of terrorism.
They are being assisted by a small team of counter-terrorism officers in an attempt to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Northern Diving Group – the Royal Navy’s equivalent of the bomb disposal squad – was also called to the scene.
Ch Supt Calum Murray, of Strathclyde Police, said: “As you would expect, when we are dealing with a situation where we suspect that explosives may be involved, it is our immediate priority to assess the situation and to call on expertise where we think it is appropriate.
“By its very nature, this type of assessment and investigation is complex and does take time. I can confirm that we are currently being assisted by agencies from across the UK.
“I would stress that the site is secure and that there is no risk to public safety.”
Ch Supt Murray also said the damage in the woodland was “not an expansive area”.
Ch Supt Calum Murray said investigations were at an early stage
Officers are also collecting CCTV footage from local businesses within the general area of the explosion.
Hotel manager Stuart King told the BBC: “I got a phone call from CID asking if I could meet them here as a matter of urgency and that they wanted to access our CCTV system.”
Mr King said the officers gave him no details about why they were scrutinising the footage.
He added: “We heard rumours that there had been an explosion and then saw it on the news website.”
A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “Strathclyde Police are currently investigating this incident and are keeping ministers informed of their progress – they have reassured us that there is no threat to public safety.”
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