The A20 has reopened following searches at a home at the centre of a police shooting.
A section of the road in Hollingbourne was shut yesterday afternoon for the third time while the bomb squad worked at the nearby property.
Plumber Sean O’Meara is still in hospital after the incident, which played out at a home off Ashford Road in the village on Monday night.
The 36-year-old, who was carrying a suspected explosive device and wearing a gas mask and body armour, was shot as he approached armed police while carrying a chainsaw.
The A20 has reopened this morning and local diversions have been removed after it was closed yesterday (Thursday) while an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team were called in.
Kent Police said it was to allow the bomb squad to make the area safe following further searches.
Since Monday, four suspicious devices have been found on the grounds of the property, opposite the Park Gate Inn pub.
The M20 was also closed yesterday in both directions between J8 for Leeds and J9 for Ashford for around an hour, and traffic was diverted along the A2/M2 corridor.
The search of the property is expected to last for several days.
Speaking previously, Kent Police West Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon said: “Officers are carrying out a very complex investigation and safety is their number one priority.
“At this current time, there is nothing to suggest there is a wider threat to the Hollingbourne community, but we have found at least four suspicious devices at the scene, and it is important that the area is made safe.
“The disruption this is causing to the local community, businesses and users of the A20 is not lost on us, and we are doing everything we can to make sure the area can return to normal as soon as possible and I would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding.
“We will do all we can to ensure any future disruption is kept to a minimum while also allowing for officers to carry out their important inquiries.”
Sean O’Meara was shot in the abdomen by a police officer at his parents’ house in Ashford Road on Monday after officers were called to the property at 7.15pm to conduct an arrest over an alleged assault.
The 36-year-old suffered life-changing injuries and is understood to be in an induced coma in King’s College Hospital in London.
Officers had already fired two baton rounds at him before he was hit.
As earlier reported, his brother Liam felt police used unnecessary force on the tradesman, who he says suffers from mental health problems.
O’Meara refused to come out of the house near Leeds Castle, so the officers were instructed to withdraw, and an armed unit was sent in.
Speaking previously, Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) director Amanda Rowe said: “Police shootings are fortunately rare; however, given a man has been injured after being shot by police, our role is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the actions and decisions taken by the police.
“Based on analysis of evidence gathered to date, no police officer is under investigation for either misconduct or criminality – they are being treated as witnesses.
“We appreciate that the community will want answers quickly, and our investigators are working hard to establish the facts and piece together what occurred. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.”
