Police have discovered at least four ‘suspicious devices’ at the scene where a gas mask-wearing plumber armed with a chainsaw was shot by officers.
Sean O’Meara, 36, is understood to currently be in an induced coma and is believed to have suffered life-changing injuries after being shot by armed police outside his parents’ home in Hollingbourne, near Maidstone, Kent on Monday evening.
Kent Police were initially called to the property opposite the Park Gate Inn around 7.15pm over an outstanding warrant.
O’Meara refused to come out, prompting a significant armed police response.
Body-worn camera footage captured O’Meara wearing body armour and a gas mask, wielding a chainsaw and holding another object that officers feared could be a homemade firearm or an improvised explosive device (IED).
Two baton rounds were reportedly fired but failed to subdue him before an officer discharged a conventional firearm.
O’Meara is now thought to have suffered ‘life-changing injuries’ after the chainsaw dropped onto his arm after being shot by an armed officer with a conventional firearm, according to his half-brother Liam.
Following the shooting, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was deployed to the scene, and police have since confirmed the recovery of multiple suspicious devices from the area.
Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon, West Divisional Commander for Kent Police, said: ‘At this current time, there is nothing to suggest 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.’
Protective clothing as well as a robot used by the bomb squad were also seen outside the pub
Two police vans parked close to the spot where a man was shot by armed police after wielding a chainsaw
Plumber Sean O’Meara, who was shot and seriously injured by armed police outside a rural pub in Kent, is understood to now be in an induced coma
He added: ‘The disruption this is causing to the local community, businesses and users of the A20 is not lost on us.
‘We are doing everything we can to make sure the area can return to normal as soon as possible. I’d like to thank the public for their patience and understanding.’
As a result of the investigation, the A20 remains closed with further possible disruption on the M20, as police and specialist teams continue their work to secure the site.
O’Meara, who was believed to be in possession of a chainsaw during the stand-off, was seriously injured when the weapon reportedly fell onto his arm after he was shot.
His half-brother Liam said he is currently being treated at King’s College Hospital in London.
Kent Police confirmed the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Liam has since spoken out, saying his brother has ‘mental health problems’, whilst adding that he believes police used unreasonable force.
According to his half brother, Liam, O’Meara’s main injuries were caused by the dropping of the chainsaw, as he believes his brother may lose use of his arm
Officers from the bomb squad were also called in to deal with the incident outside the Park Gate Inn in Hollingbourne
Armed police swarmed the area around a village pub in Kent Monday night – in an operation which saw a man being shot by cops as he wielded a chainsaw
The 44-year-old said officers could have instead shot his sibling in the leg or tasered him.
Revealing the worst of O’Meara’s injuries were caused by the chainsaw rather than the gunshot, he told The Telegraph: ‘When he was shot, most of the damage was when he dropped the chainsaw and it fell on him.
‘The bullet’s gone straight in and out so it hasn’t caused many problems.’
He believes his brother now could possibly lose the ability to use his arm.
Kent Police previously confirmed that officers attended a property on Ashford Road across the road from the Park Gate Inn pub.
‘We have been advised by Kent police that unarmed officers attended the house at around 7.15pm to arrest a man on suspicion of assault,’ the IOPC said.
‘He refused to come out of the house, so the officers were instructed to withdraw and armed officers were then deployed.
‘We have seen officers’ body worn footage which shows the man, aged in his mid-30s, holding a chainsaw and another object in his hand, which, at the time, officers believed appeared to be a handmade firearm or IED (improvised explosive device).
Trauma kits and emergency first aid bags were still open outside the pub yesterday morning having appeared to have been used
‘He was also wearing a gas mask and body armour. We can confirm a first baton round was fired by police and the man then took cover behind a hedge.
‘Officers moved in and a police dog was deployed. The man ignored orders to put down the chainsaw and a second baton round was discharged and then, seconds later, he moved towards officers and was shot by an officer with a conventional firearm.
‘A detailed search of the scene continued today and among the weapons found at the scene were a chainsaw and a device which was made safe by the bomb squad (EOD).’
A 100-metre cordon was put in place around the boozer following the incident, which began shortly after 7pm on July 7, with the shooting taking place just before 9pm.
Dramatic aerial footage captured armoured vehicles parked up outside the property securing the area.
In a brief statement released by Kent Police yesterday afternoon said cops had been carrying out an arrest when an armed officer opened fire.
Kent Police said: ‘On Monday 7 July 2025, Kent Police officers attended a property in Ashford Road, Hollingbourne, near Maidstone to conduct an arrest for an outstanding warrant.
