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Police force entry to end Knowle West stand-off
A ‘vulnerable’ man at the centre of a stand-off with police in Knowle West has been taken to hospital with what are believed to be self-inflicted injuries.
Officers forced entry into the Willinton Road property at 3.30pm on Monday afternoon, ending an incident that rendered the street impassable for several hours while police cordons remained in place.
Police were first called to the scene at 11.15am and armed response teams, paramedics and fire crews were all on stand-by as officers attempted to negotiate with the man, who had reportedly been making threats to set himself on fire.
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As crowds of onlookers – including some family members – gathered at the cordon tape, officers at the scene confirmed they had not evacuated the street, but they were preventing residents of the properties nearest the incident from returning to their homes.
An onlooker at Willinton Road on Monday afternoon
One resident, Douglas Cole, said: “I live just opposite and we first saw fire engines arriving this morning. First it was one fire engine, then another and another and they were joined by police and ambulance.
“Rumours are that a man has locked himself in his house and threatened to set himself on fire. I think there has been a person trying to talk to him.”
A spokesman for Avon & Somerset Police said: “We were called at 11.15am this morning in response to reports a vulnerable man was making threats. He went into the property and we believe that he had self-inflicted injuries. The road was closed while officers spoke to him. No one else was in the property at the time.
“At 3.30pm, officers forced entry into the property. The man has now been detained and taken to hospital. When we have completed out operation, the road will be reopened.”
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