Police discovered explosives, firearms, and drugs during a search of a property in Worle, near Weston-super-Mare, on Wednesday morning. The search was initiated after officers attempted to arrest a 70-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by false representation. During the initial search, police found suspected explosives, prompting a response from specialist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officers. A 100-meter cordon was established, leading to the evacuation of 153 homes.
The EOD team arrived at 2:15 PM but could not enter the property until the area was cleared. They began their search around 7:30 PM and subsequently destroyed tubs suspected of containing explosives. In addition to the explosives, officers recovered a firearm, an air rifle, and drugs from the property, according to an update from Avon and Somerset Police.
The cordon was lifted at approximately 6:15 AM the following morning, allowing residents to return home. Following the initial search, another location of interest was identified, and an EOD unit conducted searches at a non-residential site off the A370 near Hewish, which concluded around 10 AM with negative results.
A rest center was established at Castle Batch Community Centre, later moving to The Campus in Weston-super-Mare, supporting nearly 40 residents, including almost 30 who stayed overnight.
North Somerset Policing Superintendent Jen Appleford acknowledged the significant impact on residents and emphasized the importance of public safety in such situations. She stated that the incident escalated from a routine arrest to a multi-agency response involving police, fire, ambulance services, the military's EOD unit, NHS, and North Somerset Council. Appleford thanked residents for their patience and the community for their support during the operation. The suspect remains in police custody, and investigations are ongoing, with no wider risk to the public identified at this time.