Bomb squad called and houses evacuated as police arrest man on suspicion of explosives offences

Residents were evacuated and nearby roads closed after a man was arrested on suspicion of explosives offences in a rural market town.

Several houses were evacuated in the town of Belper, Derbyshire after police were called to reports of a concern for the safety of a man at around 6pm on Friday evening.

Residents were allowed to return to their properties at 8.15 on Saturday evening after the area was made safe.  

Police searched the property, with a number of suspicious items discovered. The force said the incident is not terror-related.  

The man was then arrested on suspicion of explosives offences, Derbyshire Constabulary said. 

Members of the bomb squad have been called to the streets in Belper in Derbyshire following reports on Friday 

A man has been arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and a 100-metre police cordon has been put in place

Police shut several residential roads around the address at Acorn Drive in Bleper, with a vast 100-metre cordon put in place following bomb disposal expert advice

Police shut several residential roads around the address at Acorn Drive, with a vast 100-metre cordon put in place following bomb disposal expert advice. 

The 100-metre cordon covered surrounding roads Acorn Way, Acorn Drive, Swinney Lane and Swinney Bank.

To aid the evacuated residents, a rest centre was set up at the Strutt Centre in Derby Road.

One resident, who was at the Thorn Tree Inn pub – which sits on the edge of the police cordon, said: ‘From what I can gather, the police have been knocking on the houses, advising people to leave. They’ve not forced them but advised them to go out.

Residents were advised to leave their homes by bomb disposal experts and several were said to have taken refuge in the local pub

Police said in an update at 8.15pm that residents had been allowed to return to their houses after being evacuated 

A spokesperson from the Strutt Centre said volunteers from Derbyshire County Council opened the building as a rest centre on Saturday

‘They’ve told them they’ll ring when it’s safe to return and they’re opening up the Strutt Community Centre for people who live in that area to go to tonight.’

She added that at least three evacuated residents had taken shelter at the pub.

Asked how the evacuees were feeling about the situation, she said: ‘They seem okay to be fair. They’re just probably surprised and concerned that you don’t know who is living near you.

‘I think they arrested him last night, the chap. The people who live near know who it is.’

A spokesperson from the Strutt Centre said volunteers from Derbyshire County Council opened the building as a rest centre on Saturday and that residents who are unable to access their homes can go there for shelter and refreshments.

Officers put in place a cordon around properties on Acorn Way, Acorn Drive, Swinney Lane and Swinney Bank

Several residential roads, including Acorn Drive, Mill Street and Swinney Lane, were closed off completely or partially to the public

She added: ‘The county council with all their emergency planning team and all their volunteers are here and it’s a warm space where they can have drinks and things like that and just see what happens bit-by-bit.’

Derbyshire Constabulary said in an update at 8.15 on Saturday evening that residents had been allowed to return home. 

The force added that the incident was not being treated as a terrorist incident and there are no wider risks or concerns regarding the safety of the public. 

Enquiries are continuing into the explosives offences.