A man has been arrested after an explosive substance which poses “a threat to life” was found in a property in a Sussex seaside town, police said.
Residents within a 100-metre cordon around the address on the A259 Marina in St Leonards were evacuated following the discovery of the chemicals on Thursday, prompting Sussex Police to declare a major incident. A 28-year-old man has been held on suspicion of producing illegal substances and making an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose and he remains in police custody. Police do not currently believe the incident to be a terror-related. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team confirmed the chemicals were explosive and pose a threat to life, officers said.
Read more…
Source: BBC News
Sign up for Counter-IED Report Newsletter
Related:
- UK: Man arrested after ‘significant number of illegal weapons’ found in house in Abergwynfi
February 16, 2026
A man has been arrested after a report of a ‘significant number of illegal weapons’ discovered at a property in Abergwynfi, Neath Port Talbot. Officers attended an address on Commercial Street, following a report at around 09:30pm on Sunday 15, February. A 51-year-old man from Blaengwynfi was arrested on suspicion of attempting to make an explosive ...
- Northern Ireland: Man accused of storing explosives in Belfast home not ideologically driven or linked to terrorism
February 12, 2026
A man accused of storing explosives in his south Belfast home is not ideologically driven or linked to terrorism, the High Court heard today. Dangerous chemicals and an improvised grenade were discovered during a major security alert at Radoslaw Kuc’s terraced house on Empire Street last year, prosecutors said. But a judge was told psychiatric assessments ...
- UK: Man who booby-trapped Barnsley drug den with ‘Home Alone’ explosives and flamethrower jailed
February 10, 2026
A man who rigged Barnsley properties with improvised explosive devices and a homemade flamethrower to protect a large-scale drugs operation has been jailed. Police raided three properties on Brierley Road in Barnsley on May 8, 2024, after intercepting a delivery of imitation firearms ordered from China. But upon arrival, officers discovered three neighbouring homes owned had been ...
- UK: Man charged after Coventry homes evacuated by bomb squad
February 6, 2026
A man has been charged with making an explosive substance with intent to endanger life after people were evacuated from their homes in Coventry. Police were called to a property on St Judes Crescent, near the junction with Meadfoot Road, in Willenhall on Wednesday (February 4). Experts from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were called in and ...
- UK: ‘Suspicious powder’ removed from house in Anfield
February 1, 2026
Army bomb disposal removed “suspicious white powder” from a house linked to a probe into the discovery of human remains. Merseyside Police closed Douglas Road in Anfield at around 2.30pm today, Sunday, after officers carrying out a forensic search at a house found a quantity of white powder. Police forensic teams have remained at the house ...
- UK: Bedfordshire man jailed for making explosive and poisonous substances
January 28, 2026
A man found with a large amount of dangerous chemicals in his garden shed has been jailed. Harry Whittaker, 31, was arrested on 6 May 2024 after officers searched his home address in Caddington. Whittaker came to police attention after he was seen by paramedics for injuries linked to exposure to various chemicals he had been ...
- UK: Controlled explosion carried out after mortar found by Norwich fisherman
January 26, 2026
A man pulled an unexploded bomb out of the water while magnet fishing on the river Wensum yesterday. Police were called out at just after 10am on Sunday to Dolphin Bridge, Norwich, after reports that someone had found an unexploded ordnance in the river. Officers then put a cordon in place and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal ...
- British Army sets out service life for key armoured engineer fleet
January 25, 2026
How modernization and maintenance plans shape the future of military engineering The army has officially outlined the service life of its key armoured engineer fleet, a critical component in modern military operations. Armoured engineer vehicles (AEVs) are specialized machines designed to support combat forces by breaching obstacles, clearing mines, constructing bridges, and enabling mobility under fire. ...
- UK: Explosive device detonated on Devon beach
January 23, 2026
Dartmouth Coastguard Rescue Team were called out at 2:57pm on Thursday, January 22, after the suspected ordnance was found. A cordon was put in place on Hallsands beach after seeing what they initially suspected to be an anti-tank mine, similar to others that have washed up in the area over time. The Royal Navy EOD team ...
- UK: Investigation continues following arrest in Bristol
January 21, 2026
Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) are continuing an investigation after a man was arrested in Bristol yesterday (20/1) in connection with a terrorism offence. A property in the Horfield area of the city was searched and a suspicious item was located. Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) attended the scene to assess the item, which ...
- UK: Man denies blowing up Ulez camera with explosives
January 21, 2026
A retired engineer from Sidcup has denied blowing up a Ulez camera with explosives. Kevin Rees, 63, of Harcourt Avenue, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court last week accused of using an improvised explosive device to damage a Ulez camera in December 2023. The former service engineer pleaded not guilty to causing an explosion likely to endanger ...
- UK: Chief Constable and Commissioner thank agencies involved in Exmouth and Plymouth operations
January 16, 2026
Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable James Vaughan, QPM MSt (Cantab), and Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez have thanked all the agencies involved in dealing with two Second World War unexploded device operations this week. This week two separate unexploded devices were found in Plymouth and Exmouth resulting in two simultaneous major incidents. The munitions were ...
- UK: Exmouth bomb safely removed as workers praised
January 16, 2026
The bomb dredged out of Exmouth Marina on Wednesday, January 14, has been safely removed. A 100-metre cordon was initially set up around the area, with properties in the area evacuated. This cordon was later extended to 400m. In an update on Thursday night, the cordon has been expanded to 600 metres, as a further 500 ...
- UK: Homes evacuated after ‘bomb’ discovered in Plymouth
January 15, 2026
Police have provided an update following the evacuation triggered by a ‘bomb’ discovered at a construction site, which currently cannot be rendered safe. The suspected explosive was unearthed near Plymouth city centre shortly before midday on Wednesday, January 14, prompting the establishment of a safety cordon and the evacuation of nearby homes. Royal Navy bomb disposal ...
- UK allocates $270 million to prepare for possible Ukraine deployment
January 9, 2026
Britain said it was allocating 200 million pounds ($270 million) to fund preparations for the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine, after pledging its soldiers this week to a multinational force for the country in the event of a ceasefire. Visiting the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, British defence minister John Healey said the money would ...
- UK: Man who blew up cash machine jailed for eight years
January 8, 2026
A would-be robber who blew up a cash machine with explosives has been jailed for eight years, police have said. Detectives investigating the attempted theft of cash from an ATM in Powburn, Northumberland, in May found explosive devices when they raided Kristopher Follos’s home. Dramatic CCTV images showed the 45-year-old trying to blast his way into ...
- UK: ‘Wartime bomb’ discovered near Birmingham New Street line
January 6, 2026
Train services heading out of Birmingham have been disrupted following the discovery of a ‘wartime bomb’ near the railway, impacting CrossCountry services, according to traffic monitoring service Inrix. West Midlands Police has confirmed that an old mortar device has been found at Duddeston Mill Trading Estate in Washwood Heath. An evacuation has been carried out, with a ...
- Syria: Britain and France conducted a joint air operation to destroy suspected Islamic State underground arms site
January 4, 2026
Britain’s and France’s air forces conducted a joint operation on Saturday evening to bomb a suspected underground arms cache previously used by the Islamic State group in Syria, Britain’s defence ministry said. Western aircraft have been conducting patrols to stop a resurgence of the Islamist militant group that ruled parts of Syria until 2019. Intelligence analysis ...
- UK: Controlled explosion after object found at Medmerry beach
January 4, 2026
A controlled explosion was carried out after a suspected piece of ordnance was found on a beach. Selsey Coastguard was called to Medmerry Beach at 6.21pm on Sunday, January 4, 2026, following reports of a suspicious object. The coastguard team took photos of the object and sent them to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. On ...
- UK: Teenager detained on mental health grounds after suspected ‘modified fireworks’ found in Blackpool.
January 1, 2026
The 16-year-old from Blackpool was earlier arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, but has now been detained under the Mental Health Act following a further assessment. It comes after police found a quantity of items of concern after attending an address on Gloucester Avenue at about 11.30am yesterday (Wednesday, December 31). Read more… Source: The ...
- Ireland: Plan to jam bomb phone signals met with resistance
December 28, 2025
Irish phone companies were “unwilling” to take part in an early 2000s scheme to temporarily block networks in a bid to prevent bombs being set off in Northern Ireland, according to previously confidential documents. Authorities in Northern Ireland and the UK had been engaging with the Republic of Ireland about the possible implementation of a plan ...
- Mince pies and brews: Defence Secretary thanks troops working over Christmas
December 19, 2025
Defence Secretary John Healey travelled to Merville Barracks in Colchester to visit troops who will be on duty over Christmas. Mr Healey spoke to soldiers from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment. The Defence Secretary got a demonstration of their kit, and he also asked them about their individual roles and what life is ...