Man, 50, enters Metro Bank in Bromley and pours petrol over himself

A man has been arrested after walking into a bank in south-east London and dousing himself in petrol, police said.

Police in Bromley said that a man, 50, entered Metro Bank in the High Street and covered himself and the bank in the flammable liquid on Monday afternoon.

Police were called to the scene at 2.29pm and a section of Bromley High Street was closed.

Road closures were put in place while the crime scene was investigated and London Fire Brigade was called to deal with the petrol spillage.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers were called at 2.29pm on Tuesday, October 16 to reports that a man had entered a bank on High Street, Bromley, with a can of petrol.

“The man had apparently doused himself with petrol and threatened to immolate himself.”

The petrol was not set alight.

A spokesperson for the bank said: “Following an incident at our Bromley store, we are working closely with the authorities to assist them with their investigation.

“We can confirm that there have been no reports of any injuries.”

The incident is not being treated as terror related.