Armed siege takes place after 'gunman takes hostages' at restaurant
AN armed siege took place after a gunman reportedly held a group of people hostage this evening.
Police units and a helicopter surrounded a 29-storey tower and the public were warned to keep out of sight of the building.
Residents who were trapped inside the Meridian Tower in Swansea, Wales said a gunman had taken a group of people at the Grape & Olive restaurant hostage.
Diners were evacuated around 4.30pm and paramedics wearing protective clothing and helmets were seen entering the tower around 5pm.
Police told around 60 people who gathered to watch the siege to "move out of sight of the tower" as their helicopter continued to circle the upper floors.
We were in the restaurant and we were told to stay put by a waiter. I asked what was going on and they said there were reports of a man with a gun
One of them, who did not want to be named, said: "We were in the restaurant and we were told to stay put by a waiter. I asked what was going on and they said there were reports of a man with a gun.
"A short while later we were ushered out of the restaurant, down the fire escape a couple of flights, and then into a lift to the bottom.
"When we came out there were armed police there and they told us to move away.
"We spoke to a lady who had actually seen the man carrying a gun."
Another diner said the alleged gunman was a man in his 20s wearing a black shirt.
She said: "It looked like a real gun."
There was a cordon around the tower and many roads into the city had come to a standstill.
Around 6.40pm a South Wales Police spokesman said the incident at the Swansea marina was over.
They added that further details surrounding it would be released "in due course".
The Meridian Tower is the tallest building in Wales standing at 351ft - with the top three floors used by the Grape & Olive restaurant.
The 29-storey of the tower houses mainly residential apartments and the ground floor features a concierge desk which is manned 24 hours a day.
The tower's penthouse apartment on the 26th floor was sold for £1million.