Blackpool teen arrested under Explosives Act after 'improvised fireworks' discovered at address
A 16-year-old Blackpool boy arrested under the Explosives Act was found with “improvised fireworks of some power”, say police.
Families were evacuated from their homes and streets cordoned off after a number of suspected modified commercial fireworks were found at an address in Gloucester Avenue at 11.30am yesterday.
Bomb disposal teams made the scene safe and removed the devices, described as “improvised firework-types of some power” and “potentially very dangerous”.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and remains in custody, said police.
The cordon was lifted at 9.30pm and those evacuated were allowed to return to their homes. A police presence remains at the scene this morning.
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A police spokesperson said: “You will be aware that there has been a significant emergency services presence in Blackpool, and we want to give you an update.
“At about 11.30am yesterday (Wednesday, December 31) we attended an address on Gloucester Avenue and when we went in we found a quantity of items of concern. This includes potentially explosive material.
“Officers, including specialists from Explosive Ordnance Disposal, attended the address to assess the items and make them safe.
“A number of suspected modified commercial fireworks were found. They have been made safe by EOD officers and removed from the address.
“The cordon has now been lifted, and those people evacuated have now been allowed to return to their homes. A police presence remained at the scene overnight.”
Chief Inspector Martin Wyatt said: “I would like to thank everyone in the area for their support, understanding and patience while we and our partners dealt with this fast moving and dynamic incident.
“People’s safety was the utmost priority throughout and that is why people living near this address were asked to leave their homes.
“The devices found were improvised firework-types of some power, which potentially were very dangerous.
“We were assisted throughout this incident by the EOD, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, the Northwest Ambulance Service, Blackpool Council, the Red Cross and others and I thank them for their support and a special mention to Tesco Express for providing food for those who had been evacuated.”