A whole residential area of Northolt in North West London has been cordoned off and 80 people have been evacuated from their homes, after police received a report that a man had ‘hazardous items’ inside a house. Officers are still currently in a stand-off with the man and have been negotiating with him for over 36 hours.
Scotland Yard have said officers still aren’t sure what is inside the house on Wood End Lane, but they’re treating seriously reports that the items could be dangerous. Police have said that there’s no suggestion the incident is related to terrorism, and that it is not related to any other ongoing investigation.
Officers were called to the house just after 1am on Friday, by someone expressing concern for the occupants of a house that they said had ‘hazardous items’ inside it. A 200 metre cordon was set up, and several nearby houses have been evacuated and their residents temporarily re-housed while negotiations continue.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Due to concerns for safety of the man at the address and the responding officers, police did not attempt to access the property.
“At this stage police believe there is one man inside the address. Whilst it is not known what the man has inside the property, police are treating seriously reports that the items could be dangerous and that attempts have been made by the man to prevent access to the address.”