Man Shot After Chainsaw Rampage Near Leeds Castle
A tense police stand-off near Leeds Castle, Kent, ended with a man seriously injured after being shot by armed officers. The suspect reportedly threatened to detonate a bomb and charged at police wielding a chainsaw.
Chainsaw-Wielding Suspect in Body Armour Sparks Armed Response
The dramatic incident unfolded on Monday evening (July 7) at a property on Ashford Road, Hollingbourne, near the Park Gate Inn. Kent Police were called just after 7pm to arrest a man in his mid-30s with a warrant for drug cultivation and assault offences.
When the suspect refused to surrender and made threats, officers pulled back and called in specialist armed units. Witnesses say the man was wearing body armour and a gas mask while holding what appeared to be an improvised explosive device (IED) in one hand and a chainsaw in the other.
Police Fire Baton Rounds Before Shooting Suspect
Bodycam footage reviewed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) reveals officers ordering the man multiple times to drop the chainsaw. When he refused, police fired a baton round, forcing him to take cover in a hedge. He re-emerged still armed and received a second baton round.
The suspect then charged the officers, prompting them to shoot him once. He sustained gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen. Paramedics treated him at the scene before rushing him to hospital. His injuries are described as serious but not life-threatening, though possibly life-changing.
Bomb Squad Called In to Render Device Safe
Police immediately sealed off the property. The British Army’s bomb disposal unit was called in and made safe a suspected device found at the scene. The chainsaw was also recovered.
A large stretch of the A20 Ashford Road remains closed while police and forensic teams continue their investigation. Nearby, the Park Gate Inn pub has been shut as a precaution.
Rural Community Left Stunned by Armed Standoff
Locals reported hearing police sirens racing through the village, shocked by the intense police presence. Harrietsham Parish Council chairman Eddie Powell said,
“This is completely out of character for around here. It is the sort of thing you would expect to happen in Oxford Street or Pall Mall.”
The close-knit community remains rattled, with some comparing the scene to major urban police operations.
Independent Investigation Into Police Shooting Underway
The IOPC has launched a mandatory probe into the shooting. Director Amanda Rowe said,
“Police shootings are fortunately rare. Given a man has been injured, our role is to independently investigate the circumstances, including the decisions and actions taken by police.”
“Based on the evidence gathered so far, no officer is under investigation for misconduct or criminality. They are currently being treated as witnesses.”
Investigators have been on site gathering evidence and collecting officer statements.
Suspect Known to Police Over Drug Charges
Court records reviewed by this publication identify the suspect as 36-year-old Sean O’Meara of Parkgate Oast House. He faces charges of cannabis cultivation and supply and was wanted on a warrant after failing to appear at a previous hearing.
His parents, Stuart and Catherine O’Meara, who reside next door at Park Gate Cottage, are also charged with permitting cannabis production on their property.
Kent Police confirmed the attempted arrest was not related to terrorism.
