Overview

• Northumbria Police charged a secondary-school aged boy with possession of an explosive substance following searches at a Meadow Road address in Monkseaton.
• The boy is due to appear at magistrates' court on Monday, with investigations continuing at the property.
• Officers attended after a report of suspicious activity shortly after 1.15pm on Friday and found a number of suspicious items at the address.
• An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called at police request and assessed the scene, with authorities confirming no wider public risk.
• Forensic officers, police dogs and specialist search teams worked at the location across Friday and Saturday, and police urged the public to avoid speculation and share information quoting reference NP-20251010-0555.