Bomb squad search area as major road is closed after police shot gas masked chainsaw-wielding plumber
Sean O'Meara, 36, was shot outside his parents' home in Hollingbourne, near Maidstone, Kent, at around 9pm on Monday after police were called to the property over an outstanding warrant two hours before.
The armed response was sparked when O'Meara refused to come out of the house, across from the Park Gate Inn, and he is currently understood to be in an induced coma after suffering 'life-changing injuries' as a result of the chainsaw 'falling on him'.
Body-worn camera footage showed O'Meara wearing body armour and a gas mask, wielding a chainsaw and holding another object that officers feared could be a homemade firearm or an improvised explosive device (IED).
Two baton rounds were reportedly fired but failed to subdue him before an officer discharged a conventional firearm.
Following the shooting, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was deployed to the scene, with police yesterday confirming they had found 'at least four' suspicious devices from the area.
And the bomb squad has again today returned as police continue to investigate, closing a chunk of the A20 as part of their searches.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: 'Intermittent road closures on the A20 will continue throughout the day on Friday, July 11, whilst ongoing enquiries continue in Hollingbourne.
'This is following a police shooting which took place on Monday, July 7, 2025.
'Given the nature of the enquires that are currently taking place parts of the A20 will be required to be closed for short periods of time.
'The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team are attending the scene to carry out further searches of the area.
'Motorists are advised to find alternative routes until further notice, and we would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding at this time.'
O'Meara's half-brother, Liam, said he is currently being treated at King's College Hospital in London.
He claimed his brother has 'mental health problems', adding that he believes police used unreasonable force and that officers could have instead shot his sibling in the leg or tasered him.
He told The Telegraph: 'When he was shot, most of the damage was when he dropped the chainsaw and it fell on him. The bullet's gone straight in and out so it hasn't caused many problems.'
However, he believes his brother now could possibly lose the ability to use his arm.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
'We have been advised by Kent police that unarmed officers attended the house at around 7.15pm to arrest a man on suspicion of assault,' the IOPC said.
'He refused to come out of the house, so the officers were instructed to withdraw and armed officers were then deployed.
'We have seen officers' body worn footage which shows the man, aged in his mid-30s, holding a chainsaw and another object in his hand, which, at the time, officers believed appeared to be a handmade firearm or IED (improvised explosive device).
'He was also wearing a gas mask and body armour. We can confirm a first baton round was fired by police and the man then took cover behind a hedge.
Trauma kits and emergency first aid bags were seen outside the pub on Tuesday
'Officers moved in and a police dog was deployed. The man ignored orders to put down the chainsaw and a second baton round was discharged and then, seconds later, he moved towards officers and was shot by an officer with a conventional firearm.
'A detailed search of the scene continued today and among the weapons found at the scene were a chainsaw and a device which was made safe by the bomb squad (EOD).'
Kent Police confirmed the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.
A 100-metre cordon was put in place around the pub across from the property following the incident.
Dramatic aerial footage captured armoured vehicles parked up outside the property securing the area.
A brief statement released by Kent Police on Wednesday afternoon said cops had been carrying out an arrest when an armed officer opened fire.
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