| The announcement came almost two-and-a-half days after armed police and negotiators converged on the popular tourist attraction in the wake of an early morning incident on Tuesday.
Throughout the events of the siege, the task of police was made highly difficult due to the extensive nature of the underground accommodation, which lies on two levels reached by a 150-foot tunnel.
It was made clear by the officer in charge at the scene, Eastern Division’s Chief Superintendent Alan Maich that police were content to play a waiting game.
He had emphasised that wanted to see the incident come to a peaceful end with the safety of his own staff and the intruder being the priority.
The manager of the property, Jim Braid, of Anstruther expressed a mixture of relief and concern after the news of the capture was announced.
He said he hoped to get in to the bunker as soon as possible but it was still a crime scene and he did not know when access would be available.
Mr Braid said, however, that the siege had lasted for a long time and he did not know what he would find or what damage had been done.
When he was given the go-ahead, he said, he would be able to contact staff, get them back to work and make the bunker available for visitors again.
“I hope to get operations back to normal at the earliest possible time.”
The Liberal Democrat opposition spokesperson on community safety in Fife Council, Councillor Margaret Kennedy said police personnel who had been involved in the incident had to be thanked for their professionalism.
She said the safety of the man inside and the security of the surrounding area had been very important and she was glad that the matter had been brought to a conclusion. |
