Armed police rushed to a street in a major UK city this afternoon following reports that a man was seen with a “gun”. Merseyside Police were summoned to City Road, Liverpool, at approximately 2.50pm on Friday after reports emerged that three men were embroiled in an altercation and one was carrying a firearm.
Police confirmed armed officers attended the location, where a man was detained, and an imitation firearm was seized. No injuries have been reported.
One neighbour told the Liverpool ECHO: “We heard loads of yelling outside at around 3pm. A few minutes later, armed police units arrived.
“People were saying there was a man with a gun. There’s often trouble around those flats. I heard yelling this morning too, at around 4am, coming from the same flats.”
A 48-year-old man from the Walton area has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and affray. He remains in police custody for questioning.
Police confirmed searches are ongoing to locate the other two men believed to have been involved in the disturbance. They are not aware of any ongoing threat to the public in connection with the incident.
Chief Inspector Andy Foster said: “To the untrained eye, an imitation firearm and BB guns can cause fear and harm to people who wouldn’t know the difference between them or a more dangerous weapon if confronted with one.
“We rely on information given to us by the public and this makes a huge difference in identifying suspects, seizing weapons and removing suspects who would bring lethal weapons onto our streets.
“It is vital that members of our communities come forward with information so we can make our communities safer for the decent, law-abiding people who live in areas affected by gun crime.
“Where people are willing to support the police, we will ensure every possible avenue is progressed to them.
“And if you don’t feel comfortable coming directly to the police call the independent, anonymous, Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111, we need to know who is involved in gun crime and where those guns are being stored.”