BOMB squad officers were called in and major roads sealed off last night after a suspicious package was discovered following a firearms incident in a factory.
Police closed the Elland bypass in both directions, causing traffic chaos, after a worker at a factory in Halifax Road, Elland, injured his hand.
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Police also sealed off a 100-yard stretch of Halifax Road and evacuated nearby buildings.
The man was taken to hospital after what police originally thought was an industrial incident.
The injuries to the man’s hand were slight and he was soon released from hospital. However, he was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of firearms offences.
Following a search of his canalside workplace, believed to be Spata Wrought Iron Works, the man was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences.
Police then swung into action, sealing off roads and calling in the bomb disposal team.
At around 5.15pm, the fire brigade called in the Red Cross, who arrived on the scene ready to carry out an emergency support role in case houses had to be evacuated.
Further volunteers were on standby throughout West Yorkshire.
At around 6pm, police evacuated workers from C3S Securiglass, which is on the opposite side of the canal to the building where the incident took place.
One late-shift worker said that there were only around six people in the building at the time and the evacuation was very calm and orderly.
Police patrolled the canal, preventing walkers and joggers from passing the industrial building.
An hour later, a bomb disposal team arrived with both Army personnel and plain clothes officers.
Several of them entered the old stone industrial building on Halifax Road. They took several items of equipment inside.
They remained at the scene last night.
