Police call in bomb squad and evacuate whole street of 50 homes after finding ‘suspicious’ items at a house
- 50 homes on a street in Grimthorpe, Barnsley were evacuated on Friday
- Police found ‘potentially harmful chemicals’ in a property following a warrant
- The Army’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal were called to the scene
- The 50 households covering two streets are now allowed to return home
An entire street in Barnsley was evacuated after suspicious items were found in a house on Friday, with police and Army officials being called to the scene.
A warrant was executed for a property on Coronation Avenue in Grimthorpe at 12.11pm, and 50 homes were cleared out following the discovery of ‘potentially harmful chemicals’.
A 100m cordon was set up and the Army’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team were present at the property, but those evacuated were allowed to return home just before 7pm.
Army bomb disposal officers were called to a property in Grimthorpe, Barnsley after ‘potentially harmful chemicals’ were found which led to the evacuation of 50 homes
A 40-year-old man was arrested and an investigation is currently underway.
A statement from South Yorkshire police said: ‘The Army’s EOD team has now left Coronation Avenue and the cordon has been lifted.
‘A scene remains in place at the property where suspicious items were found during a warrant being executed earlier today.
‘Residents who were evacuated from 50 homes close to the property in question can now return home.’
Both Coronation Avenue and neighbour street Queens Road were evacuated, with an evacuation centre set up to look after those affected by the evacuation. However, some chose to stay with other family members living nearby.
The statement continued: ‘Anyone who has chosen to stay with friends and family rather than use the evacuation centre as advised, is reminded that government guidelines in relation to Coronavirus (COVID-19) must continue to be observed. People should return to their homes as soon as possible.
A 40-year-old man was arrested with an investigation underway. Both Coronation Avenue and Queens Road in Grimthorpe were evacuated, with those affected taken to an evacuation centre or choosing to stay with nearby friends and families
‘Continuing to socially distance and stay apart will prevent people from becoming a contact and reduce the risk of spreading the virus in the community.’
One by-stander, who lives on Queens Road, revealed she and some of her neighbours were scared at being turfed out of her home.
She said: ‘Especially for the older people who can’t leave there properties during this time and being made too leave it can be quiet uncomfortable for some folk.’