Police have locked down an an area of Aberdeen after discovering a shotgun at a university campus.
The force taped off the area at Garthdee near Robert Gordon University after launching a probe into the origins of the weapon.
The firearm was discovered yesterday in the area to the west of the campus between Gray’s School of Art and the Garthdee House Annexe.
A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed the weapon was a shotgun stolen from a property in 2012.
Detective Inspector Allen Shaw, who is leading the investigation, said: “Early enquiries would indicate that this weapon appears to have been stolen from a property in the Aberdeenshire area in 2012.
“These enquiries are at an early stage and ongoing to establish when the weapon was disposed of, and how it got there.
“I would like to take this opportunity to stress that at no point has there been any threat to the public, and that the item has been safely recovered by specialist officers.
“There will be a Police presence in the area into the afternoon while further enquiries are carried out.
However, the university confirmed in an email to staff today that a firearm had been found in the university grounds but stressed there was no immediate danger to students or faculty.”
A spokesman for Robert Gordon University said: “A member of RGU’s Estates team found a firearm in the undergrowth at Garthdee Campus yesterday afternoon and immediately reported it to Police Scotland.
“As this is now a police matter, it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further other than to confirm there is absolutely no risk to our students or staff, whose safety is always our priority.”