The “suspicious white powder” found as part of a human remains probe has been confirmed as a non-harmful material. Merseyside Police evacuated Douglas Road in Anfield twice in two days after officers carrying out forensic examinations as part of a wider investigation into the discovery of human remains found “suspicious white powder”.
The army’s explosive ordnance disposal team (EOD) was called on both Sunday and Monday and removed quantities of the white powder. The ECHO revealed that the specialist unit carried out a controlled explosion of the powder at Otterspool Promenade on Sunday afternoon.
But the bomb squad decided a controlled explosion was not required following Monday’s incident. Around 20 terraced houses on Douglas Road were evacuated by the emergency services on both days and residents who spoke to the ECHO criticised the lack of information that was provided on the ground to negate understandable concerns.
Merseyside Police has now confirmed to the ECHO today, Tuesday, that the substance was found to be a “non-harmful material” following tests. Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson told the ECHO: “It is believed to have been stored in the premises for a long period of time, and therefore required careful analysis before we could deem it safe.
“When any unknown substance is found, it is imperative that we operate with an abundance of caution, while also looking to minimise disruption to those who live and work in the area. We understand the concern that police presence causes in the community, especially for those residents directly affected, but protecting those communities from potential risk is of the utmost importance.”
Police scene and bomb disposal around Douglas Road in Anfield(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Police teams have been on Douglas Road for more than three weeks as part of a probe into the discovery of human remains at a flat in St Helens. A spokesperson for the force told the ECHO on Sunday that the enquiries were connected.
And Det Supt Wilson confirmed today: “The ongoing police presence on Douglas Street is in connection with an investigation into the discovery of human remains in a flat in Gerards Court, St Helens on January 8 and we will continue to search the premises until we are satisfied all evidential opportunities have been captured.”
Contacts on Douglas Road told the ECHO that they had seen soldiers wearing “body armour and a helmet and visor” over camouflaged fatigues. The ECHO also saw items being removed from the house in question in evidence bags.
Army bomb disposal in Anfield
On Sunday the EOD van was escorted from the scene at speed by three Matrix vehicles. The ECHO was told people were then evacuated from an area around Otterspool Promenade to allow for a safe controlled explosion.
Douglas Road resident Andrew Robinson, 57, told the ECHO on Monday: “What happened yesterday proves that there’s stuff in there that we should have been told about. I want to know if it’s safe to walk past that place, or if it’ll go pop.”
He added: “They should have gone through that house with a fine-tooth comb as soon as they had the bomb squad on the scene yesterday. We’d have taken the hit for them to make sure it was safe.”
The scene on Douglas Road(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Det Supt Wilson previously said: “We don’t take a decision to evacuate residents lightly and we appreciate it must be difficult for those affected, particularly if children or elderly residents live in the house.
“We are under no illusion as to how disruptive the last two days would have been to residents. However, the safety of the public is paramount and we will always take the necessary action to protect our communities.”
The force previously said the human remains probe was a “complex investigation” and it was “vital that a full forensic search of Douglas Road takes place to establish if it is relevant to the investigation”. The force added that the upkeep and conditions in the house meant it had taken longer than normal.
Police have also been in attendance at the flat in Gerards Court following the discovery. Officers have also been at a third location, on Moss Bank in St Helens, linked to the investigation into the discovery of human remains.
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.