A significant police operation unfolded in Blackpool on New Year's Eve after officers discovered potentially explosive material at a residential address, leading to the arrest of a teenage boy.
Major Incident on Gloucester Avenue
Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. The arrest followed the discovery of what police described as "a quantity of items of concern" at a property on Gloucester Avenue at approximately 11.30am on Wednesday, 31 December.
As a precautionary measure, authorities evacuated a number of nearby properties. Emergency services, including bomb disposal specialists from the Royal Logistics Corps, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, and the North West Ambulance Service, were all deployed to the scene to assist police.
Extended Emergency Response
Chief Inspector Martin Wyatt stated that the substantial emergency response was anticipated to continue throughout New Year's Eve. He publicly thanked affected residents for their cooperation during the disruptive incident.
"We have a significant policing and emergency services presence in the area and we are asking people to avoid the area where they can," said Ch Insp Wyatt. He added, "We appreciate that this will be disruptive and concerning for the local community, but we want to reassure all residents we are working extremely hard with all our partners to make the address safe."
Scene Secured Near Promenade
Footage from Gloucester Avenue, located roughly a mile from Blackpool's famous promenade, showed a heavy concentration of police vehicles and personnel. The cordon and ongoing operation caused notable disruption in the residential area as experts worked to assess and neutralise the discovered items.
Police have not released further details regarding the specific nature of the materials found or a potential motive. The investigation remains active as officers work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
