Nine ‘suspicious’ devices found after police shot chainsaw-wielding man

At least nine suspicious devices have now been found at the scene where police shot a chainsaw-wielding man during an arrest.

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 thought he was holding an improvised firearm or explosive device (IED) – prompting a bomb squad to be called to the scene.

The tense standoff resulted in parts of the A20 being closed for several days as crews searched for other devices.

O’Meara is still in hospital with life-changing injuries, the police said, but the incident isn’t being treated as terrorism-related.

Police went to the address on Ashford Road around 7.15 pm on Monday to arrest a man on suspicion of assault.

The man, O’Meara, refused to leave the house, sparking a response from armed officers, who shot him around 9 pm.

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.’

O’Meara’s half-brother, Liam, told The Telegraph his brother suffered from mental health problems, but says he thinks police used unreasonable force.

He said: ‘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.’

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