This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-28712231
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Meridian Tower: Police used Taser in gunman arrest | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police say they used a Taser in the arrest of an armed man who had taken another man hostage in the penthouse restaurant of the Meridian Tower in Swansea. | |
| Officers confirmed a handgun had been recovered from the scene. | |
| The "hostage situation" was brought to an end by police who used the Taser to subdue the armed man after two hours. | |
| Nobody was seriously injured in the incident at the tower, Wales' tallest building, which began at 16:00 BST. | |
| Police asked people to stay away as they dealt with an incident. | |
| Trawler Road and Dunvant Place have been closed off at the bottom of the building which is the tallest in Wales. | Trawler Road and Dunvant Place have been closed off at the bottom of the building which is the tallest in Wales. |
| A police helicopter was deployed to the area and an eye witness who lives in the tower said he saw armed police and paramedics in helmets going inside. | A police helicopter was deployed to the area and an eye witness who lives in the tower said he saw armed police and paramedics in helmets going inside. |
| Jason Hole said he was told by police to stay in his flat and not leave. | Jason Hole said he was told by police to stay in his flat and not leave. |
| "We're not allowed to leave as apparently there is a gunman upstairs," he told BBC Radio Wales. | "We're not allowed to leave as apparently there is a gunman upstairs," he told BBC Radio Wales. |
| "The whole marina is a cordoned off. There are about 15 police cars and there was a helicopter earlier and armed police are trying to negotiate. | "The whole marina is a cordoned off. There are about 15 police cars and there was a helicopter earlier and armed police are trying to negotiate. |
| "I went downstairs to leave as I was going back to work and they told us I had to back up the flat because there was a gunman upstairs, or someone had gone into the restaurant with a gun and they'd had to evacuate the building." | "I went downstairs to leave as I was going back to work and they told us I had to back up the flat because there was a gunman upstairs, or someone had gone into the restaurant with a gun and they'd had to evacuate the building." |
| The Welsh Ambulance Service said they were called to an incident at the building at 16:09 BST. | The Welsh Ambulance Service said they were called to an incident at the building at 16:09 BST. |
| An ambulance rapid response vehicle and a hazardous area response team are at the scene. | An ambulance rapid response vehicle and a hazardous area response team are at the scene. |
| South Wales Police said in a statement that the public were encouraged to avoid the area until further notice. | South Wales Police said in a statement that the public were encouraged to avoid the area until further notice. |
| The Grape and Olive restaurant which is at the top of the tower tweeted: "Restaurant closed due to incident all bookings cancelled sorry for any inconvenience". | The Grape and Olive restaurant which is at the top of the tower tweeted: "Restaurant closed due to incident all bookings cancelled sorry for any inconvenience". |
| Eyewitness Mathew Wilkins said he was first aware of the incident when he heard the police helicopter overhead. | Eyewitness Mathew Wilkins said he was first aware of the incident when he heard the police helicopter overhead. |
| "At about quarter to five I could hear the helicopter overhead, and then five or ten minutes later it came back again so I took a video of it," he said. | "At about quarter to five I could hear the helicopter overhead, and then five or ten minutes later it came back again so I took a video of it," he said. |
| "I saw three police cars going past and a van and I wondered if the city would be put into lockdown," he said. | "I saw three police cars going past and a van and I wondered if the city would be put into lockdown," he said. |
| "I was looking up and down to see if the traffic was moving and then I saw what I thought was an armed response vehicle flying towards the scene. I have seen an ambulance coming from the area." | "I was looking up and down to see if the traffic was moving and then I saw what I thought was an armed response vehicle flying towards the scene. I have seen an ambulance coming from the area." |
| At 90m (300ft), the tower has become a landmark on the city's skyline since completion in 2009. | At 90m (300ft), the tower has become a landmark on the city's skyline since completion in 2009. |
| The Grape and Olive restaurant on the top three floors of the tower has panoramic views over the city and out across the Bristol Channel and Brecon Beacons. | The Grape and Olive restaurant on the top three floors of the tower has panoramic views over the city and out across the Bristol Channel and Brecon Beacons. |
| Martin Fowler from Swansea who is at the Marriot Hotel celebrating his sister's wedding. | Martin Fowler from Swansea who is at the Marriot Hotel celebrating his sister's wedding. |
| They were told by a hotel concierge that the police had told them no one could leave the hotel for the foreseeable future. | They were told by a hotel concierge that the police had told them no one could leave the hotel for the foreseeable future. |
| Spanish football team Villarreal, who are staying at the Marriott ahead of their pre-season friendly against Swansea City on Saturday, were allowed into the hotel but had to walk from their bus on the main road. |