A man has been charged with murder after a body was found in a Peterhead flat.
Police were called to the town’s King Street on Sunday, where they discovered a man had died from “suspicious” injuries.
A murder inquiry was launched, and yesterday detectives confirmed a 44-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident.
He is due to appear at Peterhead Sheriff Court today.
Last night police chiefs were quick to assure shocked residents of the town that it was a “contained incident”.
Chief Inspector Elaine Logue, area commander for Aberdeenshire North, said: “Our inquiries are ongoing but we would like to thank the public in Peterhead for their co-operation with us in the matter.
“Incidents of this nature are rare in our area and I’d like to reassure the community that this has been a contained incident and that we have someone in custody in relation to it.
“I’d also like to thank the local community for their patience with our continued presence there and that we will do all we can to minimise the disruption.”
It is thought the man who died was Lithuanian, although he has not yet been formally identified.
Detectives leading the investigation have appealed to Peterhead’s large community of foreign nationals to support their investigation as it continues.
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes said: “Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full facts of what has happened, but we would appeal to anyone and particularly those within the Lithuanian community in Peterhead who may have information relating to the death to make contact with us.”
Inquiries at the scene continued throughout much of yesterday, with King Street cordoned off between Windmill Road and Ugie Street.
Two police vans backed up by a police incident support vehicle and a forensic investigation van were parked nearby, while a silver Volkswagen Golf outside the flat where the body was found remained within the cordon.
Forensic teams wearing white suits and masks could be seen going in and out, and were spotted working in a first-floor flat.
There was a subdued atmosphere in the area and most local residents declined to comment.
However Ugie Street resident Heather Fletcher said: “It’s so close to the house – that’s what’s pretty shocking. I’d just come home from work and I saw two police cars going past.”
Michael Gibb, who has a garage in the area and passed the scene only moments after the police arrived, said: “I’m quite shocked because it’s usually a quiet town and things like this happening are very few and far between.”
Another neighbour, Armanda Couto, said: “I am indeed a little bit shocked as it was so close to my home. I saw the ambulance and I thought it was an accident – but that wasn’t the case.”
But not everyone in the local community was surprised to hear of a murder in their midst.
Christopher Connolly said: “I’m not shocked. Living in Peterhead you get used to this kind of thing. Hopefully the police can get to the bottom of whatever happened and give the person’s family some peace of mind.”