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Hostage situation: Gunman holding woman in Manchester, houses evacuated Gunman posts Facebook threat before taking girlfriend hostage in Manchester
(about 5 hours later)
An armed man has taken a woman hostage and barricaded himself inside a house in Greater Manchester where he has “cut the gas pipes,” according to a witness. An armed man believed to have cut the gas pipe to the house where he has been holding his girlfriend hostage for more than 12 hours wrote a chilling message on Facebook just hours before barricading himself inside the property.
Officers have been at the property on Pemberton Way in Shaw, Oldham, since about 3:15am local time. A number of residents have been evacuated from their homes “as a precaution,” police say. The suspect, named by Manchester Evening News as Marc Schofield, is reported to be holding his partner Lisa Hurley hostage inside the address in Pemberton Way in Oldham, Greater Manchester.
Trained police negotiators are now trying to talk down the man, who is reportedly armed with a gun. Officers have been at the scene since about 3:15am local time. The National Grid has joined armed police and the fire service on the scene this afternoon amid fears a gas pipe was deliberately cut.
A young child and baby were also reportedly in the house when police were called, but are now safely out of the property, according to the Manchester Evening News. Up to 200 homes have been evacuated in the area “as a precaution,” police say.
“Officers are in attendance and are attempting to engage with the man at the scene,” a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said. Two young children, aged one and six, were also in the house when police were called, but are now safely out of the property.Writing on one of his Facebook pages, Schofield said on Monday:
“A woman and two children were reported to also be in the property, however the children are now safely out of the address.” “Might scare you this… but I’m going to watch you sleep and then kill you ;D not even jokin hahaha.”
A witness told the Mirror that the man had “cut the gas pipes” inside the house. Hurley and Schofield are understood to be in a relationship. Just two days ago, Schofield shared a photograph of her where he wrote “breathtaking,” and in the comments joked she was “borderline rapable [sic].”
“The police haven’t alerted us to the fact that the perpetrator has cut through a gas pipe. It’s neighbors who have kept each other informed. On his Facebook page, Schofield describes himself as a “mercenary” and a “soldier of fortune.”
“Police aren’t saying anything and it’s strange some have been evacuated and not others close like us.” One of his “featured” photos is what appears to be a wanted poster that he shared in January with the caption: “I keep this to remind me the s*** I left behind me.”
Police are urging the public to avoid the area. Ten hours before the siege began, he wrote on Facebook: “Truth comes out. F*** you all.”
Speaking from the scene, Chief Superintendent Neil Evans from Greater Manchester Police said: “We were called to reports of a man breaking into a property armed with a handgun.
“Officers attended and very quickly withdrew when they were faced with a man with a handgun.
“At that time he was holding three people against their will - a female and two children. We managed, through trained negotiators, to establish contact with the man very early on.
“We remain in contact with him now. I’m pleased to say that, within an hour, the one-year-old child was released, and at around 6am this morning the six-year-old child was released. They are in the care of other family members.”
Hurley’s brother, Rick, told the Daily Mail: “We’re all just hoping she gets out safely. It’s terrifying for us.
“They’ve been seeing each other for the last 12 months or so, against our family’s wishes really.
“There’s not an awful lot we can do right now. The police have just told us to keep away.
“Lisa is a dedicated mum. Her children are her world,” he added.
Police are warning people to stay away from the area while they deal with the ongoing situation. A large cordon remains in place.