Man arrested after armed police surround house in Tonbridge stand-off
Police with dogs arrive
at the scene in Tonbridge
by Stuart Woledge
A man has been released on bail after an armed police
stand-off at a house in Tonbridge.
Officers with rifles and dogs arrested the
man in connection with a burglary in Sevenoaks early on
Tuesday.
Several teams of heavily-armed officers surrounded the property
in Hunt Road for several hours from about 8am while
attempting to arrest a suspect.
Neighbours were told to stay indoors while a cordon was thrown
around several streets.
A Kent Police spokesman confirmed at 11.15am that a man had been
arrested.
Video: Armed police at
the scene of the stand-off in Tonbridge
Moments earlier, six heavily-armed officers carrying
rifles and wearing bullet-proof jackets walked towards the
property.
A Kent Police spokesman said: "Following a police deployment in
Tonbridge, officers have arrested a man in connection with a
burglary in the early hours of 19 March."
The force confirmed he has since been released on police bail
pending further inquiries.
Police vehicles at the
scene in Tonbridge
Neighbour Nicola Gibbs, 31, said: "People had been told to stay
indoors.
"I saw the officers go in and bring out a man and then they
left. It was scary not to be told what was going on.
"To see the police outside and in the back gardens with guns was
quite a scary experience."
The scene is close to Woodlands Junior School and parents
were sent text messages at just after 8.30am to say the
road had been sealed off.
The school remained open, but a Police Community Support
Officer was outside the gates.
Road closures were enforced for Hunt Road, Turner Road and
Knight Road.
Police outside Woodlands
Junior School near the scene of the stand-off
Kerry Ward, from Mereworth, was taking her four girls to
the junior school and on-site playgroup when she saw police.
The 41-year-old said: "I got a text from the school at about
8.40am saying the road had been sealed off because of a police
incident.
"There were police everywhere, I could see about five police
cars already at the scene and as I was driving home another four or
five went racing past me."
19/03/13
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