Bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled explosion on an abandoned suitcase near Sevilla Cathedral on Thursday morning.

The incident prompted a security cordon that disrupted pedestrians, offices and tram services for around two hours.

The suitcase was found at the Archivo de Indias tram stop on Avenida de la Constitucion. It was empty, and specialist dogs detected no suspicious traces.

TEDAX bomb disposal officers carried out the controlled detonation at 10.38am as a precaution. The operation ended at 11.15am.

Policia Nacional, Local Police and Guardia Civil officers attended, restricting access along the avenue and around the cathedral, including Calle Alemanes and Calle Garcia de Vinuesa.

Tram services were cut back to Puerta Jerez while officers examined the luggage.

Some nearby workplaces were evacuated, while staff in other buildings remained inside.

Ana, an employee interviewed at the scene by Diario de Sevilla, said workers in her building received a message through an internal security group telling them to leave.

Those who had gone outside were then unable to return, while colleagues still inside were told they could stay but could not leave through the closed doors.

Staff at the nearby Andalucian Health Service headquarters remained in their offices during the operation.

Mayor Jose Luis Sanz said the bomb squad had followed standard procedures and that Local Police had already been briefed on responding to abandoned objects.

He added that the city’s Christmas security plan would be presented the following week, with particular attention paid to large planters used to block vehicle access to pedestrian streets.

The incident came on the same day that an abandoned suitcase triggered the evacuation of San Pedro Alcantara’s health centre in Marbella. Specialists also ruled out explosives there.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.