Armed police raid Plymouth flat after alleged knife incident

ARMED police raided a flat to tackle a man said to be armed with a knife yesterday.

Officers with guns burst into a Devonport home after a report the alleged knifeman was inside with two other people.

About six firearms officers entered the street-level flat in Albert Road at about 9.30am.

A further dozen police ensured neighbouring residents remained behind closed doors.

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The suspect, who had self-inflicted wounds, was arrested with no harm done to anybody else.

Insp Marcus Laine, in command at the incident, said no shots were fired and there was no siege nor “hostage situation”.

He added: “We had a report of a man in the flat armed with a knife and there were other persons in the property at the time.

“We authorised firearms officers to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

“The male with the knife had minor self-inflicted injuries but he did not need to go to hospital.”

The officer said those injuries had been the result of a separate incident on Saturday night, which had left traces of blood outside the home. The man is thought to have stayed overnight at the flat.

Insp Laine added the door of the flat did not need to be forced.

He added two other men in the flat at the time were not being held hostage but appeared to have been trying to placate the suspect.

Insp Laine said it seemed others in the flat had left earlier in the incident.

He added: “The operation was contained within the flat and we do appreciate the support of the local community who had to remain in their homes for about half an hour.”

Residents, some still wearing pyjamas, gathered on the pavement outside after the incident. They refused to talk to The Herald.

Police were yesterday questioning two men about possible public order offences – one in relation to the knife and the other about his behaviour towards police during the incident.