Overview
- A heavy emergency response gathered on Robert Terrace in Shield Row after a suspicious item was reported, with operations beginning on Tuesday, August 11, and police setting a 100-metre cordon.
- Around 60 homes were evacuated and residents were directed to The Louisa Centre on Front Street for safety and support while teams worked.
- Durham Constabulary, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, North East Ambulance Service HART crews and Ministry of Defence bomb disposal personnel all attended the scene.
- Bomb-disposal experts deployed a remotely operated robot and conducted on-site work that led to road closures including parts of the A6076 and local streets such as Gordon Terrace and Clark Terrace.
- Police later confirmed the suspicious item had been dealt with, the cordon was lifted around 7pm, and two men were arrested on suspicion of manufacturing ammunition without a licence.