Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
ARMED SIEGE
CITY STREETS ON LOCKDOWN AS POLICE SURROUND PROPERTY
Armed police laid siege to a property in Canterbury yesterday afternoon after receiving reports of concern for a woman inside.
The officers had their guns trained on a building next to the Royal Inn Chinese restaurant in Longport - amid fears there may have been a weapon present.
A police helicopter hovered overheard while nearby roads were sealed off. Students at the nearby Canterbury College were initially advised to stay on the campus as a precautionary measure while the nature of the incident was established. Residents who had gone out to buy groceries were unable to return home.
Canterbury Christ Church University student Jack Whitlam, 20, who lives in Love Lane, said: “There were two armed police officers standing at the end of the road pretty much the whole morning.
They were telling people to get back into their homes. “There was loud banging, which was them knocking on the front door of the house - they battered it down with a big metal thing.
“Someone was brought out and handcuffed - a man. He was brought behind a police car on his knees and then taken away by an officer.” But as the Gazette went to press, police said no one had been arrested. No weapons had been found.
Cris Chok, 23, who works at the Royal Inn, also saw a number of officers in the morning, wth some entering the building next door. She said: “We saw some police telling people to get away. It’s very scary now. A lot of people are worried to go out.”
A police spokesman said they were called at 11.15am. He added: “Officers, including armed officers and a police helicopter, attended the area due to concern that there may be a weapon present.” A woman was “safely located” and police remained at the scene making enquiries.