The number of homemade bombs dealt with by disposal experts in Scotland almost quadrupled in a year, The Courier can reveal.
A staggering 68 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and 451 potentially dangerous “conventional” munitions have been discovered across the country since 2010.
Figures uncovered by a Freedom of Information investigation show the 13 IEDs reported and disposed of in 2010 rocketed to 40 in 2011.
Bazooka rounds, unexploded mines and a glass phial thought to be filled with mustard gas are just some other deadly items dealt with by MoD explosive ordnance disposal officers.
The data has uncovered hotspots in Tayside and Fife where devices are regularly found, in addition to bizarre calls and false alarms.
An incident in a Glasgow kebab shop found three two-litre plastic bottles connected with copper wire and filled with flammable liquid.
Cowdenbeath FC was the scene of an investigation in 2011 after a suspect A4 jiffy bag was found and a letter with a “bulge” and sectarian abuse printed on it was posted to a florist in Renfrewshire.
A member of the public attended at a Dundee police station with what they thought was a firework, only to find out it was an unexploded device.
More unusual incidents included a call to deal with 140 grammes of explosive that turned out to be two dog training kits; an item described as a “rusty old bomb,” and a “tornado jet warhead” that was actually a mine.
A report of a “Chinese oval tray with two phones attached to a wire,” proved a false alarm, as did claims of a bomb factory and a man in a restaurant with a bomb strapped to his body.
An MoD spokesman said: “Our EOD teams in Scotland and Afghanistan do an outstanding job.
“Each operation is inherently dangerous and it is testament to the bravery, skills and training of these specialised personnel.”
The bomb squad was in Courier Country on a series of occasions. In Angus and the Mearns, officers attended at Monifieth, Arbroath, Montrose, Barry Buddon, Inverbervie, Laurencekirk, Stonehaven and also Carnoustie.
Fife had the highest number of calls, with incidents at Cupar, Anstruther,Kilrenny, Leuchars, Tayport and Glenrothes, as well as Dunfermline, Methil, Elie, Falkland, Dalgety Bay, Burntisland and Freuchie.
A torpedo was spotted at Riverside Drive in Dundee and a hand grenade was found in the city’s Dryburgh Gardens. There was also a call to a suspect package taped to the under side of a vehicle but turned out to be a false alarm.
A handful of Perthshire incidents took place in Crieff, Perth, Pitlochry and Coupar Angus. Calls to conventional munitions disposals across Scotland went from 78 in 2010, to 186 in 2011 and 187 by November 2012.
Up to October 2012 there had been 15 incidents involving IEDs.