Armed police have arrested a man who allegedly threatened a member of the public with an axe after surrounding a house in north London.
Officers were alerted to the siege on Craven Park Road, Stamford Hill just before 5.30am on Thursday.
Emergency services attended and a suspect - threatening self-harm - was seen in possession of a knife and an axe.
Marksmen from the Metropolitan Police’s elite MO19 unit were deployed but no injuries reported. London Fire Brigade put teams on standby.
But just after lunctime a police spokesman said: “Officers have contained the scene. The man arrested for affray, attempted grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.
“Local roads are closed while officers deal with the incident.”
Residents were advised to avoid the area as negotiators attempted to bring the situation to a safe conclusion.
When you accidentally walk past an armed siege on your way home from your morning dog walk. Yikes! 😬
— Sophington Towers (@s0phie0) December 21, 2023
Been going on since 5am apparently.
Hope everyone stays safe but alas there’s probably a very ill person at the heart of it all.#stamfordhill #n16 pic.twitter.com/p1aj7W4Dgr
One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote: “When you accidentally walk past an armed siege on your way home from your morning dog walk. Yikes!
“Been going on since 5am apparently.
“Hope everyone stays safe but alas there’s probably a very ill person at the heart of it all.”
Scotland Yard added: “Officers were called at 5.28am on Thursday, December 21 to Craven Park Road, N15.
“A member of the public had reported they had been threatened with an axe.
“Officers attended a residential address where a man was seen in possession of a knife and an axe and was threatening self-harm.”
