Bomb squad and armed police called to Hemlington home

Police were called to Osbourne Close in Hemlington on Thursday (June 25) after a man blocked himself inside and “made threats” – sparking the evacuation of dozens of residents.

A huge section of the street has been taped off, with neighbours cleared from 23 homes by gun-toting officers at the scene. 

Cleveland Police has described the incident as “isolated” and said negotiations were ongoing with the man inside the property this afternoon. 

(Image: ALEX O’LEARY)

Displaced residents have been forced to watch the 999 activity from the street amid 28 degree heat – with a rest centre set up at Hemlington Library. 

Residents have described waking up to the flurry of emergency services including several ambulances and a fire engine, at around 7.30am this morning. 

Jacqueline Howard described the armed police activity as “frightening”. 

The 65-year-old said: “I got up at about 8am, and all of the matrix police cars were here and the cordon was here. The police just told me to stay in. 

(Image: ALEX O’LEARY)

“I didn’t know how long it had been going on for. 

“I saw the bomb squad and thought that it must be serious.

“I nearly died – I thought, what the hell? I have never seen so many police. I counted about 11 officers and that wasn’t including the armed police.

“I have never seen them close up with guns. It was frightening. I don’t know how long we are going to be out here for.”

Pete, 75, had just arrived back from a trip away when he saw the police activity at 10.45am this morning: “I had to park my car around the corner.

(Image: ALEX O’LEARY)

“Everything was here and it has just gotten more and more. The bomb squad has come, armed police have come, the fire service has come.”

The dad-of-two added: “I have lived here for 41 years and we’ve had nothing like this. I have seen some things like but not on the scale, nowhere near.”

One man, who has lived on the road for 13 years, said he first came across the incident at around 7.30am: “There were just the police officers at the time.

“We were evacuated at about 7.50am, they just said to us that we had to leave. I’ve lived here for 13 years, it’s lovely.”

One 28-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “I first found out this morning when I tried to take my friend’s dog out at about 10.45am. 

(Image: ALEX O’LEARY)

“At the time, there was just one matrix van and about three or four police cars and one ambulance. It is quite a shock”

A cordon remains both at the front and rear of the home. Police officers guarded either side on Thursday afternoon while other emergency services waited on standby. 

Superintendent Paul Allen said: “At this time, we remain on the scene at Osbourn Close and negotiations with the man in the property are ongoing, our priority is to bring this incident to safe conclusion.

“We have extended the cordon; this has resulted in more properties being evacuated. Middlesborough Council has set up a rest centre for anyone who has been displaced, this can be located at Hemlington Library.

“I would like to reassure the community that this is an isolated incident, in a single property. Any specialist equipment and services, including the explosives unit, are at the scene as a precaution at this stage.  

A North East Ambulance spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident in Hemlington, Middlesbrough at 8.35am on 25 June.

“We are currently supporting the police and have three resources on scene.”