Police step up terror probe on city street

home for nine hours after the drama unfolded. The pensioner said: “I don’t want to be here anymore,.

“It is like living in the pits. I would say it is like New York, but it is worse than that.”

Lilian said she used to love the street and recalled how her son went to school nearby and how neighbours once knew everyone by name.

She added: “If I could leave today though, I would. Yesterday was the last straw.”

Less than 24 hours after the events unfolded, the estate was in many ways back to normal.

Many of the shops were busy, the roads had reopened and a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses were spotted handing out flyers on the street corner.

One person who used to live in London expressed his fears over the large police presence.

Empathising with locals, he said: “It is scary when this happens.”

One woman said she did not think some residents returned home last night after they were evacuated from their properties.

For those who have lived on the street for years, some are still coming to terms with what has happened.

Pensioner Archie Miills is one of those.

He lives around Philip Place and, despite being evacuated for most of Tuesday, he was back walking his dog Pepsi the following day.

“Everyone around here knows Pepsi, she’s famous,” the pensioner said.

However, he said while his dog is well known, in the decade he’s lived in the area he can’t say the same about others.

He said: “It changes around here every month. We have new people around here all the time and people are just coming and going.

“It is just different faces all of the time.”

Police say they will keep residents informed where possible as investigations continue.

Chief Superintendent Neil Hutchison, the local policing commander for Newcastle, said: “I understand our communities will have concerns about this morning’s police activity.

“However, but I want to offer my reassurance we are here to serve and protect the public of Northumbria.

“We work very closely with our colleagues in Counter Terrorism Policing North East and we will ensure we maintain these strong links in order to provide a high level of service to you.”