A 68-YEAR-OLD man told police he was contracted to assassinate the Prime Minister and blow up Ninewells Hospital after he was arrested for a bomb hoax, Dundee Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Eric James Lackie, c/o Salvation Army Hostel, Greyfriars Lodge, Princes Street, Perth, admitted that on March 21, 2003, in Bank Street, Dundee, he placed a package into a bin with the intention of inducing belief in others that it was likely to explode or ignite.

Depute fiscal Margo Addison-Scott told the court that at around 1.30 pm a refuse collector found a suspicious package in the bin with two plastic cylinders taped to it and a battery and spring attached.

She said the city population was swelled considerably that day because of a large anti-war protest and Tony Blair was scheduled to attend the Labour Party conference at the Caird Hall.

The refuse collector informed two passing police officers and they contacted their control room to report the matter.

Senior officers attended the scene and set up a road block and a 100-yard exclusion zone around the object.

Staff, shoppers and vehicles were evacuated from the Overgate car park and other businesses in the area. The army bomb disposal unit was called to attend, as was another unit from Catterick in North Yorkshire.

After examination by both units the package was found to be a hoax device, although it had the appearance of an explosive one.

Police cordons were lifted at around 5.30 pm. The area is extensively covered by CCTV cameras and on examining footage it was found only two people, a younger person and a much older man, were seen to have placed objects in the bin that day.

Fingerprints taken from the adhesive tape around the package allowed police to trace the accused.

When questioned by police, Lackie claimed he was contracted to murder Mr Blair and also to blow up Ninewells Hospital.

On examination, one of the cylinders was found to contain caps that would normally be expected to be used in a child’s gun.

Advocate Tim Niven-Smith said Lackie had a history of mental problems dating back to 1977 and that offences carried out by him had occurred during periods of illness.

Deferring sentence until October 5 for social inquiry and forensic psychiatry reports to be made, Sheriff Richard Davidson said the cost of the operation must have gone into thousands, if not tens of thousands, of pounds and the amount of trouble, cost and damage was almost inconceivable.

Lackie was granted bail with the conditions that he continued to comply with the rules and regulations of Greyfriars Lodge and that he assist in the production of the reports.