Blaze rips through home afterarmedsiegedrama
A RAGING fire ripped through the property at the centre of an armed siege in Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
Officers were at the scene of the incident in Morris Crescent, which later led to the arrest of a 36-year-old man.
A spokeswoman for the force confirmed that a woman was being checked over by the ambulance service.
A shocked onlooker said he could hear glass smashing and a woman scream.
The onlooker, who did not wish to be named, said: “The police and emergency services turned up, but all of a sudden the house was on fire. It’s a horrible scene.
“There were flames coming out the window. We could hear a woman screaming and glass smashing.
“Clouds of thick black smoke filled the streets as firefighters raced to the scene.”
The fire broke out at around 2.25pm at the property at the centre of the armed siege.
Neighbours spilled out to witness the tragic spectacle, with many too upset to talk.
The blaze spread very quickly and those in nearby houses were forced to evacuate.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “A 36-year-old man has been arrested and is presently detained in connection with the incident.
“A woman is presently being checked over by ambulance staff. The fire service are at the scene and are currently working to extinguish a fire within the property.”