Armed police storm Portsmouth street amid fears of man with gun threatening to kill woman
A woman was rushed to a safe location
Armed police stormed a Portsmouth street after reports a man was seen with a firearm while making threats to kill a woman in a “terrifying” incident.
Officers shut down Magdalen Road, Hilsea, on Saturday (September 12) around 12.15pm after reports a woman was in danger from a man with a gun.
Police said they were called after a man had “called a woman and made threats” and may be in possession of an offensive weapon. “Armed police then attended Magdalen Road, but the man was not located in the area, nor was a weapon,” a force spokesperson said.
“The woman was not injured and was taken by police to a safe location. Following subsequent enquiries, a 51-year-old-man from Fareham was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill.”
Police said the weapon was described as a firearm but no item was found by officers.
A resident told The News: “Just after 12.30pm, I was walking down Magdalen Road to get the bus. I got halfway down the road and I saw a police car pull up by the side of me.
“I glanced to the side but I didn’t think it was a big deal until I saw they were wearing helmets and stab/bullet vests. And then, I turned backwards because I thought I saw a gun.
“I then saw two more armed officers behind me and then, as I turned back the way I was going, there were two armed officers in front of me.
“At this point, I'm literally surrounded by police with guns and I probably looked terrified because one of them gestured to me to get out of their way.”
The witness added: “My mum said that after I'd left more police cars came and actually blocked the road from Northern Parade. And then the crime scene investigator team turned up in their white coveralls.”
The man has been bailed with conditions until 12 December while “enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances”, police added.