A major police operation in Skelmersdale on Wednesday, 29 July prompted local evacuations and the attendance of specialist units after reports of a man believed to be in possession of a rifle.
What happened
Officers were called at about 9am to Beechwood Court in the Birkrig area. Armed police and the force helicopter located and detained a man at the scene. A 47-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and remains in custody while enquiries continue.
"You will have seen a lot of police activity in the Birkrig area since yesterday morning and we want to tell you why. Around 9 am yesterday, we received a report of a man thought to be in possession of a rifle. Officers, including armed officers and the police helicopter attended, and the man was located and detained."
Later in the day, at around 7.15pm, officers searching an address located a grenade-type device. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists were called to assess the item. The device was ultimately determined to be a replica.
Impact on residents
The discovery prompted precautionary evacuations of a small number of neighbouring flats while EOD carried out their work; those residents were later allowed to return. The police presence remained in the area as search enquiries continued.
- Location: Beechwood Court, Birkrig, Skelmersdale
- Initial report received: c. 9.00am, 29 July
- Arrest: 47-year-old man, suspected possession of an offensive weapon
- Device found: grenade-type item assessed by EOD and confirmed as a replica
| Time (approx.) | Event |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Police called re: man believed to have a rifle |
| Morning | Armed officers and helicopter attend; suspect detained |
| 19:15 | Grenade-type device found; EOD deployed |
| Evening | Device assessed as replica; evacuated residents returned |
Ongoing investigation and how to help
Lancashire Police described the incident in a statement and said an investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information or footage is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log 0350 of July 29.
This operation will be of particular concern to local people given the scale of the response and the presence of weapons-related reports. Officers have emphasised their continuing activity in and around the Birkrig area as enquiries proceed.
Further updates are expected as the investigation develops and any charges are determined. At present the known facts are the arrest and the finding that the grenade-type device was not an operational explosive.
