Worle residents face overnight evacuation as bomb disposal unit investigates property
A major emergency operation is underway in Worle, near Weston-super-Mare, after police discovered suspicious items while searching a property in connection with a fraud investigation.
The incident began on Wednesday, September 30, when officers from Avon and Somerset Police attended a home on Becket Road to arrest a 70-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by false representation. However, the routine search quickly escalated when officers uncovered a cache of suspicious substances and items within the premises.
In a precautionary move to ensure public safety, police established a 100-meter exclusion zone around the property, forcing the evacuation of 153 households. The Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit was summoned to the scene, arriving shortly after 7:30 p.m. to assess the risk.
Throughout the evening, local authorities worked alongside police to manage the fallout of the large-scale evacuation. A refuge center was initially set up to assist displaced residents, before being relocated to The Campus in Weston-super-Mare. North Somerset Council has been coordinating with the NHS to ensure that those who require medical support or specialized care receive the necessary attention while unable to return home.
By 10:00 p.m., police confirmed that the EOD team had identified, tested, and destroyed several suspicious items discovered during their search. Despite this progress, authorities announced shortly after 11:00 p.m. that the 100-meter cordon would remain in place overnight. This measure is required to facilitate a thorough and in-depth search of the property, which is expected to continue through the early hours of Thursday morning.
The operation has left many residents in distress, particularly those who were unable to bring pets with them when forced to leave their homes. In a statement addressing these concerns, Avon and Somerset Police acknowledged the anxiety caused by the incident but emphasized that public safety remains their “primary focus.”
“We recognize the delay there has been in-between updates and we have endeavored to provide any information as it has become available to us,” a police spokesperson said. “We are grateful to residents for their understanding and patience at this time, and we are working hard and at pace to try and resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible.”
Police have reassured the public that they believe this to be an isolated incident with no broader threat to the community. The 70-year-old man arrested in connection with the initial fraud investigation remains in police custody. Authorities have advised those displaced to stay in contact with local council updates or follow the official Avon and Somerset Police X (formerly Twitter) account for the latest information as the investigation proceeds.
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