Croydon stand-off between armed police and 'gunman' ends after 10 hours

A stand-off between armed police and a gunman in south-east London has finally ended after more than 10 hours.

Pagehurst Road in Addiscombe, Croydon, was placed on lockdown after a man claimed to have a gun and allegedly threatened to kill people.

The surrounding area was cordoned off from 9.30am on Tuesday until 7pm.

The man was said to be in a car that has was surrounded by emergency services, with video footage showing a police helicopter in the skies above the scene.

A local resident told the Standard: "I saw police cordoning off the area around 10am and keeping vehicles and pedestrians back, making reasonable exceptions for immediate residents such as myself.

"Eight to 10 armed officers and 10-20 police vehicles surrounded the red Audi that was parked on Pagehurst Road.

"Rifles were trained on the vehicle throughout the day, but for the most part there was a lot of standing around and watching whilst - I'm told by passersby - police negotiated with the suspect via mobile (how his battery lasted so long I'll never know).

"At around 6.30 the suspect exited the vehicle and stood next to it for a couple minutes, then slowly walked down Pagehurst Road toward what I assume were other police officers, beyond my line of sight.

"Police, including a less-than-patient police dog, searched his vehicle and secured the area.

"At 6.43 he was escorted into an ambulance and remained in there for a few minutes before being put into a police wagon then driven off."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed the situation had been resolved and the man had been arrested.

They said: "Police were called at 08:32hrs on Tuesday, 19 March, by a man who made threats to kill.

"Officers attended Pagehurst Road near the junction with Addiscombe Road in Addiscombe.

"A man was found in a car at the location and when approached he intimated he had a firearm.

"Armed officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene, the London Fire Brigade was also informed.

"Officers have now resolved the situation.

"The man was arrested at approximately 18:30hrs on suspicion of making threats to kill. He has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody.

"Cordons remain in place.

"No schools in the area were affected by this incident.

"There is no evidence of any terrorism motive.

"At this early stage, there appears to be a domestic element to this incident."