Armed police respond to man spotted with ‘sword’

Officers descend on street after reports of person carrying large blade

Armed police descended on a Perth neighbourhood on Saturday night, following reports a man was roaming the streets carrying a large blade.

At the height of the drama, there were nine police vehicles parked along the city’s Newhouse Road.

Two armed response units and a team of dog-handlers were scrambled to help bring the situation under control.

Police Scotland confirmed that a 29-year-old man had been arrested and insisted that there was no threat to the wider public.

One onlooker said he was frightened to leave his house, adding: “Everyone seemed to arrive on the scene in a matter of seconds.

“There were about four police officers armed with semi-automatic machine guns. It was terrifying to see, we didn’t know what had happened.”

He said the police closed off part of the street at the well-used roundabout connecting Rannoch Road while focusing attention on a block of flats.

Residents, who came out on the street and on to their balconies to watch the commotion, said there were raised voices at the property throughout the incident. It appeared to end peacefully after about an hour, when a man was led out in handcuffs to a waiting police van.

Stagecoach East Scotland said its buses had to avoid the area during the lockdown.

Police Scotland would not confirm what weapon was involved in the incident, but witnesses described it as like a sword or machete.

A force spokeswoman said: “Police were called to a report of a man in possession of a weapon on Newhouse Road, Perth around 5.50pm on Saturday.

“A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection. The incident was contained and there was no threat to the wider public.”

Meanwhile, police in Perth are investigating a separate incident later that night when a man was assaulted in the city’s South Inch.

The victim, who is in his 30s, was walking through the park towards Edinburgh Road when he was set upon by two teenagers.

It happened at about 10.15pm. The first attacker had blonde hair, and was wearing a white top and dark trousers, while the second teenager was said to have short dark hair, with a black top and trousers. They were both around 5ft 7in.

Perth-based Police Constable Lucy Mitchell said: “The victim was not seriously injured, but we are appealing for anyone with any information which may help our inquiries to get in touch.

“We are particularly keen to speak to a man who went to the assistance of the victim.”

Stuart Cowper. Picture: Armed police were part of the response to the incident.