Major incident declared in Derby as two men held on suspicion of explosives offences | UK news

More than 200 houses were evacuated and a major incident occurred in Derby when police arrested two people on suspicion of using explosives.

Derbyshire Police said an evacuation zone was established as officers executed a search warrant at an address in Vulcan Street after receiving intelligence about the materials.

Two men, one in his 40s and the other in his 50s, are being held in custody and the incident is not being investigated as a terrorist incident.

Officers warned at 15.20 that people in the area around Vulcan Street could hear an explosion shortly, as a result of the controlled efforts of the army’s explosive ordnance section, which responded to the incident.

Derbyshire police said there was no wider risk to the community and the evacuations were a precaution to ensure the safety of residents.

Everyone living in the affected area is urged to be prepared to leave their homes for 24 hours and make appropriate preparations in case pets need to be moved or medication required.

There is a cordon affecting many pathways. Police said officers will be knocking on the doors of all properties within the cordon and asking residents who are currently away from home to contact them.

A recreation center for affected people is run by Derby city council in the Salvation Army. Police said they were working with the local fire and ambulance services as well as the city.