‘Crossbow siege’ enters second day: Standoff between armed police and man ‘barricaded inside an Airbnb’ passes 24-hour mark as specialist negotiators arrive on the scene with McDonald’s breakfast for him
- Staffordshire Police called to Cross Street in Tamworth at 10.30 yesterday
- Negotiators and armed police been in a standoff with man for 24 hours
- Neighbours said he was ‘shouting threats’ and are unable to access their homes
- Property is an Airbnb, according to a woman who said she was also staying there
An armed police siege involving a man believed to have been pointing a crossbow out the window of an Airbnb has entered its second day.
Specialist negotiators have arrived on the scene with a McDonald’s breakfast for the man who has barricaded himself inside the terraced house in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
The stand-off has been ongoing for more than 24 hours after armed police swooped on the scene in Cross Street at 10.30am on Tuesday
This morning, Staffordshire Police confirmed the siege had continued through the night. The force previously said a man had refused to leave a property after ‘making threats.’
An armed police siege involving a man said to have been pointing a crossbow out the window of an Airbnb in Tamworth, Staffordshire, has entered its second day
Now, specialist negotiators have arrived on the scene with a McDonald’s breakfast for him
Yesterday, the road was put in lockdown as specialist negotiators tried to convince the man to leave the property.
Dozens of armed police could be seen aiming their weapons at the address as police negotiated with the suspect.
The man is understood to be armed with a crossbow and has been making threats from the terraced house, where he is barricaded inside.
Residents of around 30 properties inside the cordon have also been unable to get to their homes. Pictures also show police dogs pacing up and down the street.
The negotiator (left) speaks with a member of the public during the siege. The scene where armed police have been called to a house in Tamworth, Staffordshire, where a man is believed to be wielding a crossbow
Earlier, a female officer wearing a stab vest and helmet was seen clutching a Maccy’s bag and a hot drink while walking along the street this morning.
Local residents said they have still not been allowed back into their homes as the deadlock continued.
One said: ‘The police have been very nice about it and have even got an old dear her medication for her.
‘But it’s starting to become quite frustrating now. They’ve just took him in a McDonald’s to try and coax him out.
‘The main thing is that this is resolved peacefully, that’s all we want really.’
A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: ‘Officers remain at the scene of an ongoing incident at a property on Cross Street in Kettlebrook, Tamworth.
‘We were called to the address at 10.30am yesterday (Tuesday 6 September) following reports of concerns for the welfare of a man.
‘The man had refused to leave the property and a number of threats had been made.
‘He has since engaged with specially trained negotiators who remain at the scene.
‘No one has been reported injured.
This morning, Staffordshire Police confirmed the siege had continued through the night. The force previously said a man had refused to leave a property after ‘making threats’
Police descended on Cross Street in Tamworth, Staffordshire at 10.30 yesterday morning after a man barricaded himself inside a property and refused to leave
‘A temporary road closure remains in place and we are working hard to bring the incident to a safe conclusion, for everyone, as soon as possible.
‘We would like to thank local residents and businesses for their understanding and patience throughout this time.’
Residents said the man has been staying at the Airbnb property but had since been told to leave.
He has been seen ‘hanging from a window with a crossbow’ and ‘shouting threats’ at police.
Specially-trained negotiators and armed police are still currently at the scene as the siege enters its second day. Neighbours said there are around 50 officers in the street
One local, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘It’s pretty frightening stuff. This guy who was staying there is locked in with a crossbow.
‘Officers have been communicating with him but he’s not budged at all and I don’t know what is taking them so long.
‘There must have been around 50 police on the street yesterday. You can hear them shouting to each other but whatever they are saying hasn’t worked so far.
‘I’ve been unable to get to my house for an entire day now, I’ve stayed with friends overnight and I’ve come back to get my work uniform but I can’t.’
Another resident added: ‘We just hope it all comes to a safe conclusion. It’s been really tense and it’s scary that this can happen on your doorstep.
‘To know there’s a man in there armed with a deadly weapon is very worrying.. This is a quiet street usually.
‘But now there’s SWAT teams with guns, police dogs and officers swarming the place. It’s been crazy.’
Neighbours described the offender as ‘hanging from a window with a crossbow’ and ‘shouting threats’. They are currently unable to get to their houses, with the road having been temporarily closed
A woman told Birmingham Live that the property is an Airbnb that she was also staying in.
She said: ‘I am staying with my boyfriend. There are just us two and the man involved.
‘I know nothing about him. His room is opposite ours but I haven’t spoken to him.
‘All my possessions are inside. It is so scary to think we could have been in there when this happened.’
The road has been temporarily closed, leaving residents unable to get into their homes. One, Daniel Pratt, said: ‘Finished work but can’t get into my front door because a guy has a crossbow out the window with like 50 cops in the street.’
Another neighbour, Fiona Glover, added: ‘I was with my small child and there were firearms, I didn’t want to get too close.’
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