West Kensington police stand-off as cops in riot shields rush to man on roof
Pictures show the man has climbed up the tree surrounded by officers with police and firefighters on standby - with the incident causing major delays on London Overground services and closing nearby Kensington Olympia station.
Police in London are involved in a chaotic stand off with a man who is refusing to climb down from a tree, with pictures also showing him throwing tiles down from a roof.
Officers with riot shields - likely for their own protection - and paramedics have rushed to the scene in West Kensington this morning, with dramatic pictures showing the man surrounded by cops.
He could be seen wearing a fluorescent green jacket and a helmet as he clung on to one of the branches, with other pictures showing him on the roof.
London Fire Brigade also attended the incident.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers were called at 4.21am to reports of a man on a roof in Russell Gardens Mews, W14.
The man then threw a number of items down onto nearby railway tracks.
Officers are trying to speak to him following concerns for his welfare.
The man had at one point climbed a tree, but is now back on the roof, the spokesman added.
Pictures showed large numbers of officers at the scene.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Firefighters are supporting colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service at an incident on Russell Garden Mews, Kensington.
"The Brigade was first called about the incident at 10.19, and crews from Hammersmith and Paddington Fire Station are currently on scene."
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 4.35am this morning to reports of a person on a roof in Russell Gardens Mews, W14.
❗️#WillesdenJunction - The emergency services are dealing with an incident near the railway between Shepherds Bush and Clapham Junction. To allow teams to carry out their work, all lines are closed. Trains running between Watford Junction / Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction…
— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) June 17, 2024
“We have an ambulance crew and an incident response officer on standby at the scene, alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade.”
Transport for London said overground services between Shepherd's Bush and Clapham Junction were suspended this morning as a result of a "police incident" outside Kensington Olympia, which a spokesman later confirmed was related to the roof stand-off.
A sign at the station said it was closed as a result of a "trespasser".
