Bomb Squad Called After Grenade Found in Chorley
🤖 AI Generated ImageA routine number plate check in Preston ended with bomb disposal teams in a Chorley cul-de-sac.
Homes on Kirkstall Close were evacuated after officers found what's believed to be a grenade during a search connected to the stop.
How It Started on a Different Street Entirely
According to LancsLive, officers spotted a Ford Fiesta on New Hall Lane in Preston at 9:40pm on Sunday, June 21, and signalled for it to stop over suspected illegal number plates.
The vehicle didn't stop. Officers pursued it briefly before it came to a halt on Brockholes Brow.
The driver fled the car and pointed what officers initially believed was a handgun at them.
He was detained, and a search of his person turned up two knives. The weapon itself was later confirmed to be a BB gun, not a genuine firearm.
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Four Arrests Before the Grenade Was Even Found
The driver, a 20-year-old man from Chorley, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm, failing to stop, possession of an offensive weapon, and failing to provide a breath test.
Three passengers in the vehicle were also arrested: a 20-year-old man from Preston, a 21-year-old man from Preston, and a 21-year-old woman from Preston, all on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.
All four remain in custody.
That initial arrest chain — a traffic stop that escalated into a pursuit, a fake firearm, and two knives — had already concluded by the time investigators' search led them to the discovery in Chorley.
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🤖 AI Generated ImageWhat Officers Found at the Chorley Property
Investigators traced their enquiries to a property on Kirkstall Close in Chorley, where a search turned up what's thought to be a grenade.
A Lancashire Police spokesperson confirmed that as a precaution, some properties in the area were evacuated and the force's Explosive Ordnance Disposal colleagues were contacted and attended the scene.
The spokesperson was direct on one point: there isn't thought to be any risk to the public at this time.
The cul-de-sac was cordoned off while the EOD team carried out their assessment of the device.
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What's Still Being Worked Out
The investigation into the suspected grenade and its connection to the earlier vehicle stop remains active.
Police have asked anyone with information or footage relating to the incident to come forward.
The force also acknowledged the situation might understandably concern residents in the area, and said officers would be carrying out reassurance patrols in and around Kirkstall Close while the investigation continues.
Residents with concerns, or anyone with relevant information, were encouraged to approach those patrolling officers directly, or to call the non-emergency police line quoting a specific log number tied to the original report.
Key Takeaways
- A suspected grenade was found during a police search at a property on Kirkstall Close, Chorley, prompting evacuations and an EOD response.
- The discovery followed a vehicle stop on New Hall Lane, Preston, after officers suspected illegal number plates.
- The driver fled on foot after a short pursuit, pointing what was thought to be a handgun at officers — later confirmed to be a BB gun.
- Four people were arrested in connection with the vehicle stop: the 20-year-old driver from Chorley and three Preston passengers, aged 20 and 21.
- All four remain in custody.
- Police say there is no risk to the public at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.
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James Mitchell has covered US and UK politics for over a decade, with a focus on elections, foreign policy, and Capitol Hill. He breaks down complex political stories into clear, fast analysis.
