A man and woman have been found dead in a room at a luxury city hotel.
Police are investigating the deaths following the discovery of the bodies at the five-star Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh at 12.15pm on Thursday.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Emergency services are in attendance at the Scotsman Hotel on North Bridge where the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered in a room around 12.15pm today.
“Inquiries are at an early stage and the deaths are being treated as unexplained at this time.”
It is understood that police are investigating a possible chemical incident andthe sixth floor of the hotel has been evacuated.
The Scotsman is situated just off Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile and a short distance from Princes Street, the city’s main shopping thoroughfare.
Edinburgh’s busy summer season is under way as thousands of performers and tourists flock to Scotland’s capital for the Fringe Festival.
A large cordon stretches from the hotel entrance on North Bridge along thepavement towards the Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street.
Police, fire and ambulance crews are at the scene but the road remains open to traffic.
Norma and Derek Cameron, from Kelso in the Scottish Borders, are staying at the hotel for two nights while they see the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. They were prevented from returning to their room on the eighth floor.
Mrs Cameron, 71, said: “We were just going back to go to the Tattoo. We wanted to get in and get refreshed.
“The police weren’t giving anything away. They just said that the hotel had been closed and everyone evacuated.
“It’s horrible to think about. I’m not sure I want to go back in now.”
Mr Cameron, 73, said: “We’ll just have to wait. If it’s true they’ve found a couple of deceased in there, you would fully expect them to have a really serious look around.”
It is understood police are considering a possible double suicide at thehotel.
Lynn Massie, 34, and Neil Cooper, 31, from Aberdeen, are staying at the Scotsman and are waiting to collect their luggage after a two-day break.
Ms Massie said: “We’re really shocked. I feel very sorry for the families of the two people. I don’t know what happened but it’s quite sad.
“You don’t expect something like this to happen at a five-star hotel. It’s a shame for the hotel staff too.”
They said the incident would not put them off staying at the hotel again.