Terrified residents flee homes as bomb disposal experts race to Post Office street after ‘active bomb’ discovery
A quiet Welsh town was thrown into chaos last night as bomb disposal experts descended on a residential street after police discovered what residents described as an “active bomb” near the local Post Office.
The dramatic scenes unfolded on New Dock Road in Llanelli, just 11 miles north-west of Swansea, when explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams were scrambled to the scene following the discovery of a suspicious device during a police raid.
Panicked residents were ordered to evacuate their homes as a massive 100-metre cordon was thrown around the area, with police sealing off five roads including Trinity Terrace, Trinity Road, Copperworks Road, New Dock Road, and Marged Street.
‘IT’S A BIT SCARY’ – EVACUATED RESIDENT SPEAKS
Dog groomer Georgia Fuller, who was among those forced to flee from New Dock Road, revealed the terrifying moment police told residents about the danger.
“It is not nice, they have cordoned all the roads off, it is a bit scary,” she told reporters at the scene.
Another shaken local added: “It is really busy at the moment. They are evacuating the street. Everyone is saying different things at the moment.”
ARREST MADE AS DEVICE ‘MADE SAFE’
A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosive Substances Act following the execution of what police described as a “planned search warrant” at an address on New Dock Road.
The device was discovered during the warrant operation, sparking the immediate response from specialist teams who worked into the night to make the area safe.
Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts were called to an address on New Dock Road, Llanelli, on Wednesday evening where a device was “made safe”, Dyfed-Powys Police said.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION CENTER SET UP
As the drama unfolded shortly after 6pm on Wednesday, A rest centre had been set up at Llanelli Leisure Centre for residents impacted earlier in the evening.
Dozens of worried families were shepherded to safety as bomb disposal experts methodically examined the device, with officers going door-to-door to ensure all residents within the cordon were evacuated.
FIVE ROADS SEALED OFF
The scale of the operation became clear as police established a wide exclusion zone around the Post Office area, with the following roads completely closed to traffic:
- Trinity Terrace
- Trinity Road
- Copperworks Road
- New Dock Road
- Marged Street
Residents within the cordon will be contacted by officers directly. A rest centre has been set up at Llanelli Leisure Centre for residents who have been impacted by the cordon.
ALL-CLEAR GIVEN AFTER TENSE HOURS
After hours of tension that gripped the Welsh town, police finally gave the all-clear late Wednesday night.
“Update at 9.50pm. EOD officers have concluded their searches and one device was made safe, and we no longer believe there is any wider threat to the public.
We no longer believe there is any wider threat to the public,” police said.
Relieved residents were finally allowed to return to their homes after the device was neutralized, though The force added that officers will remain at the location overnight while enquiries continue.
POLICE CHIEF THANKS COMMUNITY
Chief Inspector Dominic Jones praised the local community for their cooperation during the frightening ordeal.
“I would like to thank the whole community for their support and patience while we dealt with this incident. Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as enquiries continue.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
The arrested man remains in police custody as detectives continue their investigation into how the explosive device came to be at the property.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the warrant was executed under The Explosive Substances Act, though they have not revealed what initially led them to the address or the nature of the device discovered.
The incident has left the tight-knit community shaken, with many residents expressing shock that such a discovery could be made in their quiet neighborhood near the town’s Post Office.
As dawn broke over Llanelli today, police maintained a presence at the scene while forensic teams continued their examination of the property where the device was found.
