Around 40 homes evacuated as bomb squad examines suspicious items

Summarised from 4 outlets · 9 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 17:47 · Archive

Essex Police evacuated about 40 homes in Brentwood after discovering suspicious items at an address on Sawyers Grove.

Around 40 homes were evacuated in Brentwood on Friday 30 October after Essex Police discovered suspicious items at a property on Sawyers Grove. Police were called to the address at around 7.20am following reports of a neighbour dispute and a damaged door. Officers forced entry to the address, where they arrested a man and a woman. During a search of the property, they found several small items requiring specialist assessment.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts were called to the scene to examine the items. A 100-metre police cordon was put in place across much of Sawyers Grove and small parts of Sawyers Hall Lane and Highland Avenue as a precaution while the assessment continued.

Residents whose homes fell within the exclusion zone were directed to a rendezvous point at King George's Playing Fields Pavilion. Essex Police said the cordon would remain in place until the assessment was complete.

One resident quoted by the Echo described the incident as 'unsettling', noting the presence of a bomb disposal vehicle, military personnel and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal robot in the neighbourhood near schools.

Essex Police said in a statement: 'We appreciate the disruption this is causing and thank residents for their patience. We'll continue to provide updates and hope to have the cordon lifted as soon as possible.' The man and woman arrested remained in custody, though Essex Police did not confirm what they had been arrested on suspicion of.

How it is being reported

• Community 'unsettled' by bomb squad probe into suspicious items in south EssexA community has been left unsettled after the discovery of suspicious items in Brentwood has resulted in a major bomb squad operation.Echo (Basildon) · 30 Oct, 17:24
• Major police update after Brentwood bomb threat evacuates 40 homesA police cordon remains in placeEssexLive · 30 Oct, 15:26
• Police issue update as 40 Essex homes evacuated amid 100-metre cordonAround 40 homes evacuated in Brentwood as Essex Police assess suspicious items. A 100-metre cordon remains in Sawyers Grove, with two people in custody.Brentwood Guardian · 30 Oct, 14:45
• Police issue update as 40 Essex homes evacuated amid 100-metre cordonAround 40 homes evacuated in Brentwood as Essex Police assess suspicious items. A 100-metre cordon remains in Sawyers Grove, with two people in custody.Echo (Basildon) · 30 Oct, 14:45
• Police issue update as 40 Essex homes evacuated amid 100-metre cordonAround 40 homes evacuated in Brentwood as Essex Police assess suspicious items. A 100-metre cordon remains in Sawyers Grove, with two people in custody.Colchester Gazette · 30 Oct, 14:45
• Brentwood homes evacuated as police tape off area and bomb squad called to scenePolice have cordoned off an area with residents evacuatedEssexLive · 30 Oct, 12:48
• Homes evacuated as bomb squad at scene of large cordon in EssexHomes evacuated in Brentwood as Essex Police and bomb disposal experts assess items found at a Sawyers Grove property after two arrests on October 30.Brentwood Guardian · 30 Oct, 12:22
• Homes evacuated as bomb squad at scene of large cordon in EssexHomes evacuated in Brentwood as Essex Police and bomb disposal experts assess items found at a Sawyers Grove property after two arrests on October 30.Echo (Basildon) · 30 Oct, 12:22
• Homes evacuated as bomb squad at scene of large cordon in EssexHomes evacuated in Brentwood as Essex Police and bomb disposal experts assess items found at a Sawyers Grove property after two arrests on October 30.Colchester Gazette · 30 Oct, 12:22

In this story: Essex Police · Brentwood · Sawyers Grove · Explosive Ordnance Disposal · King George's Playing Fields · Sawyers Hall Lane · Highland Avenue

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log