Evacuated Residents Return Home After St Leonards Chemical Incident

The major incident has been stood down, though testing of additional canisters and a smaller cordon remain in place.

Authorities discovered explosive chemicals at a residential property in St Leonards, East Sussex, prompting the evacuation of 73 residents on March 20, 2025.
A 28-year-old man was arrested and later detained under the Mental Health Act, with no evidence suggesting intent to harm.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team neutralized chemicals and conducted a controlled burn, while testing continues on 500 additional canisters of unknown substances.
The 100-metre cordon has been reduced, allowing most residents to return home, though a smaller restricted area remains for ongoing safety checks.
The Hastings Half Marathon, scheduled for March 23, was canceled due to safety concerns and community disruption.