A prisoner is still on the roof of Strangeways prison in Manchester after six hours with police negotiators having tried to bring him down.
The man wearing blue has been pictured walking around on the sliding roof of the building by a chimney and occasionally signalling. In the latest development shortly before 11pm, crowds of people have been letting off fireworks, as well as chants of 'oggy oggy oggy' from the inmate and the public have been heard.
Members of the public could see the man on top of the prison in the centre of Manchester which became notorious for serious rioting in 1990. The prison is also believed to be on lockdown while the protest continues, MEN reports.
Some photos show the man attempting to try signal and one image he is making a heart shape with his hands while wearing what looks like a waterproof top with the rain pelting down.
A Prison Service spokesperson reportedly said: "We are working with emergency services to bring the prisoner down safely."
At one point the inmate could be heard repeatedly shouting 'IPP', which is believed to be a reference to Imprisonment for Public Protection court sentences. These are the much-criticised indeterminate sentence which were scrapped in 2012 but many inmates remain behind bars who were given IPP sentences.
Crowds have gathered in their cars outside as of 10pm, playing music and watching the prisoner who keeps making love heart gestures with his hands.
The inmate can also be seen trying to dry his clothes on the roof after the heavy rain during the day.
When the drama began on Wednesday afternoon, police closed Southall Street adjacent to the prison, officially titled HMP Manchester.
It is understood talks with the inmate who is not said to have threatened to harm himself or anyone else have been going on for six hours.
Images from the scene show an ambulance and there are road closures in place.
It is understood that police have been talking to the man for over three hours with negotiators trying to get him to climb down.
Earlier a spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police reportedly said: "At around 4.30pm today (Wednesday, April 12, 2023), officers were called to a concern for welfare of a man on Southall Street.
"Emergency services are currently at the scene with specialist negotiators.
"Road closures in and around Southall Street will remain in place until further notice. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area. There is believed to be no wider threat to the public."
The prison – still known to many by its former name 'Strangeways' - is one of the country's largest high security, category A men's prisons.
The jail, to the north of Manchester city centre, which has capacity for over 1,200 inmates, was rebuilt following the infamous Strangeways riot of April 1990 – the biggest disturbance in prison service history.
Last year Strangeways was put on a week-long lockdown with inmates confined to their cells and unable to exercise or even shower.
HM Prison Manchester has forbade convicts from leaving their rooms for any reason amid a high security "intelligence-led" operation, last June.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the lockdown was due to an "intelligence-led operation" which has taken place inside the prison to crack down on illegal goods.
Officials confirmed that visits had been temporarily suspended for a week.
