UPDATED : Property in High Wycombe searched in connection with incident at Dover immigration centre
A property in High Wycombe has been searched by Police in connection with an incident at Dover immigration centre.
On Sunday 30th October 2022, at 11.22am, Kent Police were called to a Home Office immigration premises at The Viaduct in Dover.
Police officers at the scene established that two to three incendiary devices had been thrown outside and into the premises by a single suspect who arrived at the scene in a car.
Two people inside the property at the time of the incident reported minor injuries. The suspect involved in the incident was identified and very quickly located at a nearby petrol station and confirmed deceased.
Police officers have confirmed that the suspect, found deceased at a nearby petrol station, is a 66 year old man from the High Wycombe area.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit attended the location to ensure there were no further threats. A further device was found and confirmed safe within the suspect’s vehicle.
The site remained open, however around 700 suspected migrants were relocated to Manston to ensure safety during the initial phase of the police investigation.
Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing by Kent detectives.
Kent Police were being assisted by colleagues from Thames Valley Police to carry out a warrant at a property in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on Monday 31st October 2022.
Updated 01/11/2022 :
Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) have now taken the lead from Kent Police in the investigation into an incident, which happened at a Home Office immigration centre in Dover.
The suspect in the incident has since been identified as Andrew Leak, aged 66, from High Wycombe.
A search warrant was carried out at a property in the High Wycombe area in Buckinghamshire on Monday 31st October 2022. A number of items of interest were recovered, including digital media devices, which are being examined as quickly as possible. Due to the nature of the evidence gathered so far, it is clear that officers with specialist knowledge, resources and experience are best placed to lead this work to determine the motivating factors.
There is currently nothing to suggest the man involved was working alongside anyone else and there is not believed to be any wider threat to the community in the High Wycombe area or in Dover.
Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, Head of CTPSE, said: ‘This was a traumatic incident for everyone involved, and the wider community, and we’re working hard to establish exactly what led to the events on Sunday morning.
We understand that when Counter Terrorism Policing become involved, it can be worrying for some people, but I would like to reassure people that there is nothing to suggest any ongoing wider threat at this time.
What appears clear is that this despicable offence was targeted and likely to be driven by some form of hate filled grievance, though this may not necessarily meet the threshold of terrorism. At this point, the incident itself has not been declared a terrorist incident, but this is being kept under review as the investigation progresses.‘
*Source of article : Kent Police ‘latest news’ and Thames Valley Police ‘latest news’.
