Armed Police in Lewisham in Stand-Off at High Street Flat
Armed police remain in a stand-off at a flat above some shops in Lewisham, south-east London. Officers were called after a man was seen brandishing a knife through a third-floor window on Lewisham High Street.
The area has been cordoned off, causing significant disruption to traffic, pedestrians, and buses. A section of the A20 has also been closed while emergency services attend the scene. The Met Police confirmed that there was “no indication” that anyone else was inside the property.
Lewisham Council has deployed staff to assist residents unable to access their homes, advising those affected to approach the cordon or call 020 8314 6000 for support.
A food retailer at Lewisham Market, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the incident had been ongoing since late morning. As a precaution, a branch of HSBC located opposite the scene temporarily closed, though the bank confirmed that no customers or staff were involved.
The Met Police reported that officers were called to the disturbance at approximately 10:45 GMT. A passer-by, Callum Fahim, described seeing a man leaning out of a third-floor window, waving a large knife.
“There are two armed police officers with a gun aimed at him, and they’ve been like that for a long time now,” he said.
“I can’t see any signs of any negotiations or anything taking place. There are fire engines, police, and ambulances. And now, some police horses have turned up.”
The situation in Lewisham remains ongoing as emergency services continue to manage the incident.
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