A man has been arrested after the discovery of explosive chemicals sparked the evacuation of seafront properties in an East Sussex town.
More than 70 people have been unable to return home to the Marina in St Leonards since Thursday.
Despite arresting a 28-year-old on suspicion of producing illegal substances and making an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose, police say the incident is ‘not believed to be terror-related’ and is not connected to large-scale drug production.
A road race is supposed to pass by on Sunday, sparking speculation that there may be a connection.
Bomb disposal robots and teams clad in protective gear have been spotted on the scene.
In a statement on Saturday morning, police said: ‘On Friday afternoon, the explosive ordnance disposal team desensitised the chemicals found in the property on the A259 Marina and they are conducting a thorough search of the property for any further hazardous material.
‘The scene is not safe until this search has been completed in full and this will continue into tomorrow.
‘Public safety is our priority and the 100-metre cordon remains in place.
‘We will allow residents to return to their homes as soon as it is safe for them to do so.
‘We understand how unsettling it is for the 73 people displaced, but thank the public for their patience and understanding. We continue to liaise with Hastings borough council at the rest centre at Royal Victoria hotel.’
The fate of the Hastings Half Marathon, due to pass these houses on Sunday, will be decided by Saturday ‘mid-afternoon’, organisers said.
In a Facebook post, they said: ‘We do not want to cancel the race until the latest possible moment, so we can allow it to go ahead if possible.
‘Your safety, along with that of our supporters and volunteers is our top priority.
‘We appreciate your patience and support as we work to ensure a safe and enjoyable event for all.
‘In agreement with the authorities, we are continuing with course setup while we assess the situation further.’
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