A man is due to appear in court after an explosive device detonated near a police officer while the Defence Force was securing another IED in Feilding.
Police were called to a home on Montagu St on Wednesday after receiving a tip-off that a person was in possession of a prohibited military-style semi-automatic firearm.
The firearm was seized, and police returned the following morning to arrest a person of interest.
The person was “swiftly arrested”, police carrying out a further search of the property discovered an improvised explosive device (IED).
The New Zealand Defence Force’s Ordnance Disposal squadron were called while officers remained at the scene.
As the NZDF team was working at the site to secure the IED, another detonated near an officer.
“The police staff member was not injured but was checked over by ambulance staff,” police said.
“Properties in the immediate vicinity of the address were evacuated as a precaution while the rest of the property was searched and items made secure.”
Several IEDs, accelerants and ammunition were found in the search.
Scene examinations of the property and the offender’s vehicle have since been carried out, and inquiries are ongoing.
A 43-year-old man has been held in custody.
He is due to appear in the Palmerston North District Court today charged with unlawfully possessing a prohibited firearm, unlawfully possessing a prohibited magazine, and charges relating to the improvised explosive devices.