A specialist army bomb squad has carried out controlled explosions in a leafy Hertfordshire suburb after a ‘suspicious object’ was discovered under a car on Saturday afternoon.
Around 50 homes have been evacuated and a 100-metre cordon installed around the scene in Cowley Hill, Borehamwood, as the British Army continue their investigation alongside a significant police presence.
Emergency services were called just after 12.30pm today, with Hertfordshire Police arriving first, followed by the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) unit.
Roads close to the area have been closed off, while one witness told Daily Mail that terrified residents – including from 28 ‘container homes’ – were informed by officers they had ‘just two minutes to evacuate’.
Some, still only in their pyjamas, were ordered to leave immediately or they would be ‘arrested for their own safety’.
One witness was told by a police officer at the scene that the incident was ‘connected to a particular address’, but could not provide further detail at this time.
Michelle Vince, a former Labour councillor for Hertsmere Borough Council, went down to the scene to help those left stranded after the evacuation.
She said: ‘People were told to just get out of their homes. They didn’t have a lot of clothes on, one little boy didn’t have any shoes on.
‘And they were dressed in not a lot of clothes from being indoors. It was lucky it was dry, but many of them were not dressed warmly enough.
‘Around 4.30pm, Hertsmere Borough Council opened up an evacuation centre in Borehamwood town centre.
‘A police officer told me it’s taken a lot of resources, but people were, like, left outside and in limbo really, just not knowing exactly what was going to happen.
Amber, a mother-of-three, who lives in one of the evacuated container units just off Crown Road said she had just arrived home after being away for a few days when the police arrived.
‘I hadn’t even got through my door when an officer turned up and said we needed to leave right there and then – or we would be arrested.
‘We fled the area for an hour, but when we came back the roads were all cordoned off. After a short while we heard two large bangs go off.
‘The residents were left standing in the street, with no food, no toilet, no information about what was happening.
‘Most of the families asked to leave are quite vulnerable. My 96-year-old neighbour couldn’t even stand up to answer the door to the police and I have another neighbour who is heavily pregnant.
‘It’s quite concerning to think it could be a targeted attack. We are all vulnerable people here.’
Another resident, Priscilla, was evacuated out of her home with her three children – all of whom have disabilities.
She said the thought someone might have deliberately planted a device near to their home in a heavily-residential area was ‘frightening’.
‘My children were still in their pyjamas – but there was no time to get food or clothes, because I had to get my son’s medication before we left.
‘After we were evacuated, my kids sat outside on a grass verge with blankets around them. We are just very grateful to Michelle Vince for being there to help us with getting clothes and food.’
Dan Ozarow, mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town council, helped hand out food and blankets to the stranded and said the residents had a ‘general sense of bewilderment’ about the situation.
‘Many were wondering what on earth is happening here. The children were all sitting out on the grass verges, while neighbours were offering food and blankets.
‘People were pulling together to help one another’.
Scores of residents, including families with young children, remain in the evacuation centre. It is understood Hertsmere Borough Council has tonight also been providing food and much-needed supplies, including clothing and baby milk for those who cannot return to their homes.
A statement from Hertsmere Police issued earlier this afternoon said: ‘Police are currently in attendance at a scene on Cowley Hill, Borehamwood following the discovery of a suspicious object.
‘There has been a 100m cordon put in place while the object is assessed by the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) unit.
‘A number of roads in the area have been closed and officers are assisting with the evacuation of residents.
‘We kindly advise the public to avoid the area and motorists to seek an alternative route at this time.’
Daily Mail has contacted for Hertfordshire Police, Hertsmere Borough Council and the British Army for comment.