London police in 'armed standoff' as 'man with gun' puts streets on lockdown
ARMED police rushed to west London amid reports of a man with a firearm.
Southall: Police respond to incident on Saxon Road
Officers are understood to have been in a stand-off with the man - who was refusing to come out of a property. A spokesperson from the Met Police said: "Police were called to Saxon Road, Southall, at 2.12pm on Thursday, January 21, to reports of a man with a firearm. "Officers attended. The man has refused to come out of a property when asked.
"As a precaution, nearby roads have been closed."
One witness told MyLondon: “I've heard someone took out a gun.
"I don't know if anyone's been shot. That’s why police are there.
"There are more than 50-60 police. They are carrying guns."
Ealing Council warned drivers of traffic diversions due to road closures.
They tweeted: "There is a police incident in Saxon Road, Southall which has led to some local roads being closed and traffic diversions in operation.
"No further details at this time."
Another witness added they saw a swathe of armed police in the surrounding area.
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They said: "Heavy armed police several of them all parked up on West End Road.
"Something is cooking up on The Broadway, Southall."
An employee at a local restaurant on The Broadway said: "I’m working so couldn’t go see but saw some armed police go past the shop."
Video footage on social media showed a group of armed police officers stood in discussion, while other officers were perched on people's garden walls or in their front yard.
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One police officer was also captured on film stood on someone's front garden wall while pointing their gun in the distance, although it is not clear what they were pointing at.
It comes just a few days after police were called to intervene in a huge brawl involving bottles, knives and even swords in a separate incident in Southall.
Officers were called to the fight involving 40 men in King Street, Southall, just after midnight on Sunday, Ealing Police said.
Two men, in their 20s, who carried swords during the violent confrontation were chased into St Johns Road.
They were arrested for violent disorder and affray and remained in police custody on Monday morning.
Ealing Police wrote on Twitter at the time: "Team two responded to a large fight this morning in @Southall involving up to 40 males fighting with swords and bottles.
"Two males were chased into St Johns Road and identified as having carried swords during the fight.
"They were arrested for Violent Disorder and Affray."