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A1 closed after reports of explosion at Catterick

The A1 is closed in both directions after reports that an explosion was heard in or around Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

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A1 reopens after reports of explosion at Catterick

Police have reopened the A1 in North Yorkshire after it was closed for more than 12 hours following reports of an explosion.

It was shut between Leeming and Barton as a precaution while police investigated reports of a blast near Marne Barracks at 3am this morning.

Eight people told police they heard an explosion - but officers say after extensive searches of the area, they've found no obvious signs of a blast.

North Yorkshire Police, the North East Counter Terrorism Unit, explosives detection dogs, the National Police Air Service and military search personnel have all been involved in today's searches.

We are satisfied that the call to the police was made with good intent.

“We appreciate that members of the public will ask why the road had to be shut for so long.

"In view of the location of the suspected explosion, the source of the information, the current threat to UK security and a report a few hours earlier of a vehicle seen in suspicious circumstances outside the barracks, we were not prepared to take any chances with people’s safety and had to carry out a very extensive and thorough investigation.

“We may never find out what the source of the explosion was, however, following the search and investigation I am now satisfied that there is no threat to members of the public. A number of possibilities have been looked into, however, there is no information or evidence to say this reported explosion was a criminal or deliberate act.”

– Superintendent Dave Hannan, North Yorkshire Police
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A1 closed after reports of explosion at Catterick

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