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| Nuneaton: Police end leisure park siege, boss says | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suspected gunman has been arrested after police ended a four-hour armed siege at a bowling alley in Nuneaton. | A suspected gunman has been arrested after police ended a four-hour armed siege at a bowling alley in Nuneaton. |
| Officers were called to the scene at around 14:30 BST after reports a man with a shotgun had taken two hostages at MFA Bowl, in Bermuda Park. | Officers were called to the scene at around 14:30 BST after reports a man with a shotgun had taken two hostages at MFA Bowl, in Bermuda Park. |
| A man was arrested after a "series of loud bangs" were heard at the bowling alley at around 18:30 BST. | A man was arrested after a "series of loud bangs" were heard at the bowling alley at around 18:30 BST. |
| The suspect was treated at the scene, while two other men escaped uninjured, West Midlands Ambulance Service said. | The suspect was treated at the scene, while two other men escaped uninjured, West Midlands Ambulance Service said. |
| Officers brought the incident to "a peaceful resolution" and "there were no injuries", Warwickshire Police Chief Superintendent Alex Franklin-Smith said. | Officers brought the incident to "a peaceful resolution" and "there were no injuries", Warwickshire Police Chief Superintendent Alex Franklin-Smith said. |
| He said the siege was "unconnected" to terrorism. | He said the siege was "unconnected" to terrorism. |
| Both of the hostages - a duty manager and a bowling lane host - were unharmed. | Both of the hostages - a duty manager and a bowling lane host - were unharmed. |
| Chris Clegg, operations director of MFA Bowl, said they were now being checked for shock. | Chris Clegg, operations director of MFA Bowl, said they were now being checked for shock. |
| "It's obviously not an everyday situation. The ambulance, police were checking them and making sure they were OK," he said. | "It's obviously not an everyday situation. The ambulance, police were checking them and making sure they were OK," he said. |
| The firm's chief executive Mehdi Amshar said he understood the man was known to a member of staff at the bowling alley. | The firm's chief executive Mehdi Amshar said he understood the man was known to a member of staff at the bowling alley. |
| Warwickshire Police say they were called to reports of a man - described by eyewitnesses as "in his 40s" with a gun "slung" over his shoulder - with a firearm at 14:30 BST. | Warwickshire Police say they were called to reports of a man - described by eyewitnesses as "in his 40s" with a gun "slung" over his shoulder - with a firearm at 14:30 BST. |
| Chris Turner told the BBC how he was walking past the front entrance to the bowling alley when the man "ran up to the door". | Chris Turner told the BBC how he was walking past the front entrance to the bowling alley when the man "ran up to the door". |
| He had "a gun in his hand" and told him to "get out of the area", he said. | He had "a gun in his hand" and told him to "get out of the area", he said. |
| Mr Turner said the man shouted at a crowd of people outside to leave, saying: "I've already told you once." | Mr Turner said the man shouted at a crowd of people outside to leave, saying: "I've already told you once." |
| Eyewitnesses also spoke about how they fled the bowling alley, while others hid in toilets, as the gunman brandished a weapon above his head. | Eyewitnesses also spoke about how they fled the bowling alley, while others hid in toilets, as the gunman brandished a weapon above his head. |
| Other businesses in the leisure park, including a children's soft play centre and restaurants, were also put into lockdown. | Other businesses in the leisure park, including a children's soft play centre and restaurants, were also put into lockdown. |
| Families inside the soft play centre told the BBC they barricaded the front door with tables and chairs. | Families inside the soft play centre told the BBC they barricaded the front door with tables and chairs. |
| Earlier, Kelly Perrett, who was at the Frankie and Benny's restaurant, told the BBC: "I am hiding in the toilet with about 20 people. | Earlier, Kelly Perrett, who was at the Frankie and Benny's restaurant, told the BBC: "I am hiding in the toilet with about 20 people. |
| "It looks like police have got the bowling alley surrounded. The police told me that the gunman is near the door with a hostage." | "It looks like police have got the bowling alley surrounded. The police told me that the gunman is near the door with a hostage." |
| Megan Westward said she was about to leave a children's soft play centre when staff told her to move away from the windows. | Megan Westward said she was about to leave a children's soft play centre when staff told her to move away from the windows. |
| "There are quite a few bullet proof vans," she said. "We've just seen an air ambulance take off, there are ambulances and there are police in full body suits with guns." | "There are quite a few bullet proof vans," she said. "We've just seen an air ambulance take off, there are ambulances and there are police in full body suits with guns." |
| She was then evacuated to a nearby hotel. | She was then evacuated to a nearby hotel. |
| Police say specialist firearms officers and police negotiators had been sent to the scene. | Police say specialist firearms officers and police negotiators had been sent to the scene. |
| At around 18:30 BST they used flash bangs - which create a loud noise and bright light - to enter the bowling alley. About 15 minutes later, an ambulance was seen going to the site and the suspect was later taken to hospital. | |
| Chief Superintendent Franklin-Smith added: "We are pleased that we were able to bring this incident to a peaceful resolution and that there were no injuries. | Chief Superintendent Franklin-Smith added: "We are pleased that we were able to bring this incident to a peaceful resolution and that there were no injuries. |
| "I would like to reassure the Nuneaton community that the incident is unconnected to any terrorist activity." | "I would like to reassure the Nuneaton community that the incident is unconnected to any terrorist activity." |
| The ambulance service said it had sent "a number of resources" to the scene, including a hazardous area response team, an emergency planner. | The ambulance service said it had sent "a number of resources" to the scene, including a hazardous area response team, an emergency planner. |
| An air ambulance was also dispatched. | An air ambulance was also dispatched. |
| Bermuda Park includes a Holiday Inn Express hotel, a gym, a DIY store, a soft play centre and several restaurants. | Bermuda Park includes a Holiday Inn Express hotel, a gym, a DIY store, a soft play centre and several restaurants. |
| Are you in the area? If it is safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? If it is safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |