Major incident in Derby as 200 homes evacuated and two arrested over explosives offences

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of explosives offences after 200 homes were evacuated and a major incident declared following a police warrant at a property in Derby.

The men – one in his 40s and another in his 50s – were arrested on Thursday after Derbyshire Police received intelligence about materials at a house in Vulcan Street.

Both remain in custody, but the force said it was not being treated as a terrorism incident and that there was “no wider risk to the community”.

A controlled explosion was carried out at about 16:00 GMT, with Derby City Council confirming that accommodation had been arranged for affected residents for the night “and the coming days”.

A police spokesperson confirmed the evacuations were a precaution but that residents in the affected areas should be prepared to be out of their homes for 24 hours.

The areas affected in their “entirety” by the evacuation zone are Vulcan Street, Reeves Road and Shaftesbury Crescent.

Harrington Street, from Holcombe Street to Vulcan Street; Baseball Drive, up to Columbo Street, and Cambridge Street at Reeves Road and Shaftesbury Crescent are also within the exclusion zone.

Amy Anderson, of Shaftesbury Crescent, said she had been contacted by a friend at about 14:00 telling her police were in the area.

The 34-year-old, who is six months pregnant, said: “It’s been very daunting and a bit [of] the unknown.

“You’re not expecting to have to pack up your things in a moment.”

Esteban, 17, of Holcombe Street, said he had been told to leave the area by a police officer.

“It was not a very pleasant feeling because I just woke up,” he added.

“I was very shocked, I didn’t know what to do. I literally jumped off my bed, put my clothes on and then I was just letting everyone know [they had to leave].”

The two men who have been arrested are Polish nationals, Derbyshire Police has said.

A police spokesperson told the BBC it had released this information in line with national guidance around forces being encouraged to disclose the ethnicity and nationality of suspects to combat misinformation.

Derby City Council confirmed it had set up an assembly point at the Pakistani Community Centre in Harrington Street to support any affected residents, with a rest centre in place at The Salvation Army in Osmaston Road.

“A number of Derby City Council colleagues are on site to support with translations and help reassure any residents who have been evacuated. Accommodation has also been arranged for any residents that need any support overnight and the coming days,” a council spokesperson added.

Gary Robb, from the Salvation Army, said: “We don’t know whether it’s going to be a few hours or longer.

“We’re going to have a handful of volunteers here through the night.”