Man with crossbow arrested after siege

A man has been arrested after a stand-off with police in Lanarkshire that lasted almost four hours.

Emergency services were called to a house on Morris Crescent, Blantyre, around 10:40am yesterday amid reports that a woman was inside the property while a man had a crossbow.

Firearms officers, negotiators and uniformed officers were all sent to the scene.

The area had been cordoned off when a blaze broke out in the house.

Firefighters were called to the property and started working to extinguish the flames.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at 2:30pm in connection with the incident, while a woman was checked by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “A 36-yearold man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is presently detainedinpolicecustody.”

Flames were seen coming from the roof of the property shortly before the arrest was made.

Nearby schools had been alerted and told to keep their children inside while the incident was ongoing.

A police helicopter was called to the incident. Fire crews remained at the scene last night.