Police said officers found the white powder while carrying out an “extensive forensic examination”
19:12, 01 Feb 2026Updated 19:40, 01 Feb 2026
Police and army bomb disposal on Douglas Road(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Army bomb disposal removed “suspicious white powder” from a house linked to a probe into the discovery of human remains. Merseyside Police closed Douglas Road in Anfield at around 2.30pm today, Sunday, after officers carrying out a forensic search at a house found a quantity of white powder.
Police forensic teams have remained at the house in question for over three weeks as part of a wider investigation after human remains were found at a flat in Gerards Court, St Helens, on January 8. A police spokesperson told the ECHO today that the enquiries are connected.
The army’s explosive ordnance disposal team (EOD) attended the scene and removed the powder. The powder was taken to open land for a controlled explosion to be carried out.
The ECHO was told by one man who lived on a neighbouring road that a soldier was seen wearing “body armour and a helmet and visor” over his camouflaged fatigues. The ECHO saw another soldier leaving the property in question carrying a number of evidence bags.
Police cordon off Douglas Road.(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
The EOD van was escorted from the scene at speed by three Matrix vehicles at around 4.30pm. The road was reopened a short time later, and a mobile police station remained outside the house in question. Blue police tape was pulled across the front entrance.
Around 20 properties were evacuated by police officers. A spokesperson told the ECHO: “The road was temporarily closed, and a number of houses adjacent to the property were evacuated as a precaution while the substance was removed from the property.”
One man who lived close to the property said: “I was at home, and police knocked on my door and asked who was in the house. I said me, my partner and my dog. They said we had to go, and the street was being evacuated.
Emergency services on Douglas Road(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
“We were told it was just for a couple of hours, but we haven’t heard anything. It’s the same house where police have been. We’re only a few doors down. That’s when we started panicking a bit.”
The scene on Douglas Road(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service was also in attendance at the scene. A spokesperson confirmed to the ECHO: “[We] attended an incident on Douglas Road, Liverpool, earlier today to assist Merseyside Police. One fire engine was on scene from 15.20 and left at 16.41.”
The ECHO can confirm that the area around Otterspool Promenade was evacuated by Merseyside Police officers at 4.30pm for the controlled explosion to be carried out.
The ECHO has previously spoken to residents on Douglas Road who described their fears about the ongoing investigation on their front doorsteps. Alison Bohl, 58, said: “It’s intimidating. They’re not telling anyone anything. It’s a frightening thing to happen on your doorstep.”
Police and army bomb disposal on Douglas Road(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Neighbour Andrew Robinson added: “My kids are frightened. The amount of activity has been ridiculous. [There have been] two forensic vans, two mobile police stations, and people in white suits coming out the house….It’s disconcerting. I get it’s an ongoing investigation, but they could knock on the door and let us know that there’s going to be lots of people coming and going.”
Detective Inspector Dave Jones said: “This is a complex investigation, and as such, we are carrying out several lines of enquiry…It is vital that a full forensic search of Douglas Street takes place to establish if it is relevant to the investigation, and due to the upkeep of the property, that is taking longer than normal.”
Police have also been in attendance at a third location, on Moss Bank in St Helens, linked to the investigation into the discovery of human remains. A police evidence tent had previously been erected in front of a garage, while a vehicle and disused boat were inside a cordon.
George Gordon, 65, of Gerards Court, St Helens, has been charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body and obstructing a coroner in the execution of their duty. He appeared in court on January 12.