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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gunman arrested as police seal off Natwest bank branch in Birmingham | Gunman arrested as police seal off Natwest bank branch in Birmingham |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man has been arrested at a Birmingham branch of Natwest which was sealed off by police after an emergency call reported a gunman in the building. | A man has been arrested at a Birmingham branch of Natwest which was sealed off by police after an emergency call reported a gunman in the building. |
| Witnesses said the man burst into the bank armed with a pistol. | Witnesses said the man burst into the bank armed with a pistol. |
| Before the arrest a West Midlands Police spokesman said: “Police received an emergency call at 11.45am reporting a man with a firearm inside NatWest bank in Bristol Road South, Northfield. | Before the arrest a West Midlands Police spokesman said: “Police received an emergency call at 11.45am reporting a man with a firearm inside NatWest bank in Bristol Road South, Northfield. |
| “Response and armed officers have contained the building and police negotiators are on the scene.” | “Response and armed officers have contained the building and police negotiators are on the scene.” |
| The service later tweeted that “a man has now been arrested by officers at NatWest in Northfield”. | The service later tweeted that “a man has now been arrested by officers at NatWest in Northfield”. |
| According to the Birmingham Mail, which spoke to witnesses, customers at the bank were allowed to leave, while staff were locked inside. | According to the Birmingham Mail, which spoke to witnesses, customers at the bank were allowed to leave, while staff were locked inside. |
| One witness said: A man had what looked like a 9mm pistol, he pulled it out before he went in. | One witness said: A man had what looked like a 9mm pistol, he pulled it out before he went in. |
| “There were civilian hostages in the bank. | “There were civilian hostages in the bank. |
| “The first armed police turned up within minutes. | “The first armed police turned up within minutes. |
| “The police were using an air vent to talk to him.” | “The police were using an air vent to talk to him.” |
| A woman, who did not want to be named, told the paper prior to the arrest: “Armed police are lined up around the building and the roads are cordoned off. | A woman, who did not want to be named, told the paper prior to the arrest: “Armed police are lined up around the building and the roads are cordoned off. |
| “It’s on lockdown. | “It’s on lockdown. |
| “The police have told us to stay inside and away from the windows. | “The police have told us to stay inside and away from the windows. |
| “There is what looks like riot police outside the bank at the moment and it’s on complete lockdown. | “There is what looks like riot police outside the bank at the moment and it’s on complete lockdown. |
| “It’s so scary, I just really feel for the staff inside the building.” | “It’s so scary, I just really feel for the staff inside the building.” |
| A spokesperson for NatWest said: “We're aware of an incident that took place in NatWest Northfield this afternoon, which has now been resolved. We're working closely with the police at this time". |