UPDATE: 'Highly volatile' chemicals found in suburban Brisbane home

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has revealed the explosives found at a Brisbane home contained “highly volatile” chemicals.

Police were called to a house on Red Cedar Road in Pullenvale at about 8.30pm last night and declared an emergency situation.

Police are searching for the former owners of the home and the area remains in lockdown.

Specialist officers performed controlled detonations on a number of unstable explosives overnight and more are expected throughout today.

Mr Stewart said the chemicals are hard to source.

The unstable explosives were too dangerous to be moved and one had to be detonated at the scene at about 1.30am.

Neighbours told 9NEWS that it was unusual for the suburban street to be the focus of a high-profile operation.

“It’s a bit surprising, considering we have little kids on the street,” one man said.

Some road closures remain in place.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au