Man arrested after armed siege at Portsmouth shop

A man has been arrested following a three-hour armed siege closed a section of a busy city centre.

Police were called to Commercial Road in Portsmouth at about 12pm after receiving a report that a man had entered a shop and started making a threats with a knife.

The area was sealed off to the public by armed officers while ambulances attended the scene.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "We can confirm police received a call shortly after 12pm today (Saturday October 31) to a report of one man making threats with a knife within a business address on Commercial Road, Portsmouth.

"The surrounding area was evacuated and sealed off to the public while specialist police negotiators were called to speak with the man as part of our response to resolve the situation safely and peacefully.

"Those negotiations are continuing at this time.

"There are no reports of injuries, and no information to suggest a wider threat to the public in the city."

At shortly after 3pm, a man wearing a blue hooded top over his head, was led away by police officers and driven away in a police van.

Portsmouth Police posted on Twitter: "We can confirm that we have detained a man following a public order situation in the city centre. TY for everyone's patience."

Witness Declan Cordwell told the Portsmouth News: "We saw about 15 police officers, five ambulances, police with dogs and riot shields.

"There is a police helicopter flying over. It was mad, I've never ever seen anything like it."