Latest news with #SeanOMeara
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
A20 reopens after police shooting and bomb squad searches in Kent
The A20 in Hollingbourne has fully reopened after days of disruption following a police shooting and searches by bomb disposal teams. Kent Police confirmed that searches at the scene are now complete, and the road — which had been intermittently closed since Monday — has been made safe. As part of ongoing searches in the area throughout the week, at least nine suspicious devices were dealt with by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. It follows a incident on Monday July 7, when a man armed with a chainsaw was shot by a police officer near the Park Gate Inn on Ashford Road, close to Maidstone. Sean O'Meara, a 36-year-old plumber, was wearing a gas mask and body armour when officers attempted to arrest him on suspicion of assault. Police believed at the time he may have been in possession of an improvised firearm or explosive device. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said officers were called to the address at around 7.15pm. Armed officers were deployed after the man refused to leave the property. READ MORE: He was shot at approximately 9pm after ignoring repeated instructions to drop the chainsaw he was holding. The IOPC said: '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. '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.' Mr O'Meara was taken to hospital with injuries to his arm and abdomen. Police say he remains in hospital with injuries described as life-changing. Kent Police said the incident is not terror-related. Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon, West Divisional Commander, said: 'This has been a complex investigation and we appreciate that the intermittent closure of the A20 caused disruption to many. 'We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding whilst we conducted these vital searches.'
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Police find at least NINE suspicious devices after shooting gas mask-clad plumber as he wielded chainsaw
Police have found at least nine suspicious devices at the scene where they shot a gas mask-clad plumber as he wielded a chainsaw. Sean O'Meara, 36, was targeted by officers during an arrest on suspicion of assault at his parents' home in the village of Hollingbourne, Kent, on Monday evening. Kent Police believed the suspect, who was also wearing body armour, was holding an improvised firearm or improvised explosive device (IED). After he refused to leave the property opposite The Park Gate Inn when police were first called at around 7.15pm, armed officers were deployed, who shot at around 9pm. Officers called on an explosive ordnance disposal team to the scene outside the country pub - but they are not treating this as a terror incident. The suspect, as of Saturday, remains in hospital with 'life-changing' injuries, in an induced coma, following the chainsaw 'falling on him'. Shocking pictures of the scene near Maidstone show heavy protective clothing and a robot used by the bomb squad to deal with the terrifying incident. Parts of the nearby A20 were closed across several days as the bomb squad searched the area but the road has now fully re-opened. Two baton rounds were reportedly fired at O'Meara but failed to subdue him - before an officer discharged a conventional firearm. It was confirmed on Thursday officers had found 'at least four' suspicious devices in the area. 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 he believes police used unreasonable force and officers could have instead shot him 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.' But 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. '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).' 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. Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon, West Divisional Commander for Kent Police, said: 'This has been a complex investigation and we appreciate that the intermittent closure of the A20 caused disruption to many. 'We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding whilst we conducted these vital searches.' He previously said: 'At this current time, there is nothing to suggest a wider threat to the Hollingbourne community, but we have found at least four suspicious devices at the scene and it is important that the area is made safe.' A Kent Police spokesperson said on Friday: '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.' It followed a brief statement from the force on Wednesday afternoon, saying cops had been carrying out an arrest when an armed officer opened fire.
The Independent
12-07-2025
- The Independent
Police find at least nine suspicious devices after shooting man with chainsaw
At least nine suspicious devices have now been found at the scene where a chainsaw-wielding man was shot by police during an arrest, Kent Police said. Plumber Sean O'Meara, 36, was wearing a gas-mask and body armour when he was shot and seriously injured by a police officer close to The Park Gate Inn in Hollingbourne, Kent, on Monday. Police believed the suspect was holding an improvised firearm or improvised explosive device (IED) and an explosive ordnance disposal team was called. Parts of the A20 were closed across several days as the bomb squad carried out further searches of the area, but the road has now fully re-opened. The suspect remains in hospital after suffering life-changing injuries, the force said in an update on Saturday. Police are not treating the incident as terrorist related. Officers went to an address in Ashford Road at about 7.15pm on Monday to arrest a man on suspicion of assault, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said. The man refused to leave the house and armed officers were deployed. The shooting happened at about 9pm. Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon said: 'This has been a complex investigation and we appreciate that the intermittent closure of the A20 caused disruption to many. 'We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding whilst we conducted these vital searches.'
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Police find at least nine suspicious devices after shooting man with chainsaw
At least nine suspicious devices have now been found at the scene where a chainsaw-wielding man was shot by police during an arrest, Kent Police said. Plumber Sean O'Meara, 36, was wearing a gas-mask and body armour when he was shot and seriously injured by a police officer close to The Park Gate Inn in Hollingbourne, Kent, on Monday. Police believed the suspect was holding an improvised firearm or improvised explosive device (IED) and an explosive ordnance disposal team was called. Parts of the A20 were closed across several days as the bomb squad carried out further searches of the area, but the road has now fully re-opened. The suspect remains in hospital after suffering life-changing injuries, the force said in an update on Saturday. Police are not treating the incident as terrorist related. Officers went to an address in Ashford Road at about 7.15pm on Monday to arrest a man on suspicion of assault, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said. The man refused to leave the house and armed officers were deployed. The shooting happened at about 9pm. Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon said: 'This has been a complex investigation and we appreciate that the intermittent closure of the A20 caused disruption to many. 'We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding whilst we conducted these vital searches.'
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Bomb squad search area as major road is closed after police shot gas masked chainsaw-wielding plumber
A bomb squad has returned to further investigate the site where armed police shot a gas masked chainsaw-wielding plumber earlier this week. 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.
