ARMED COPS END SIEGE
SUSPECT ARRESTED AND TWO HOSTAGES FREED AS POLICE STORM BOWLING ALLEY
A SUSPECTED gunman has been arrested after two members of staff were held hostage at a Nuneaton bowling alley.
Bermuda Park was locked down when the suspect held two male employees inside MFA Bowl for more than four hours.
Several loud bangs were heard and flashes seen as armed cops moved in to end the stand-off
The suspect was arrested and taken to hospital, and both staff members – a duty manager and a lane host – were unharmed.
Chris Clegg, operations director of MFA Bowl, said: “He has been arrested and the two staff are safe.”
A gunman had gone into the bowling alley at 2.30pm armed with a shotgun and told everyone else to get out.
Armed police then surrounded MFA Bowl, in St David’s Way, as negotiators tried to resolve the drama.
The area was cordoned off and police were seen leading people away from the area. The alleged gunman was last night in hospital.
West Midlands Ambulance Service had a number of resources at the scene including the air ambulance. They tweeted last night to say that there were no casualties.
Some people were stuck inside the Odeon cinema which went into lockdown at around 3pm.
Others were let out at around 5pm and were able to access the car park and exit on the A444.
Speaking to Sky News during the siege, chief executive of MFA Bowl Mehdi Afshar said he believed two members of staff had been held hostage at the bowling alley.
He said: “Our priority is the safety of our staff and customers.”
One witness, Lawrence Hallett, told Sky News he saw the gunman while at Bermuda Park for a children’s birthday party.
He said: “I looked up to see the gunman and everyone started running hell-for-leather.”
Mr Hallett ran to the car with his family and stayed there for 10 minutes. He then saw the gunman come out of the alley and start shouting, waving the gun around and swearing. Mr Hallett and his family then swiftly left the complex.
Warwickshire Police said in a statement: “A man has been arrested after an incident in Nuneaton.
“At 2.30pm this afternoon (Sunday, October 22) Warwickshire Police received reports of a man with a firearm in Nuneaton.
“Specialist firearms officers and police negotiators, along with fire, ambulance and police air services, attended the location at the bowling alley in St David’s Way, Bermuda Park.
“A man has been arrested and is in police custody.
“Members of public at the bowling alley and neighbouring properties were evacuated to safety and nobody was injured during the incident.”
Warwickshire Police Chief Superintendent Alex Franklin-Smith said: “We are pleased that we were able to bring this incident to a peaceful resolution and that there were no injuries. I would like to reassure the Nuneaton community that the incident is unconnected to any terrorist activity.”