Armed officers from across Sussex descended on Chichester city centre in the early hours of Friday, initiating a major police operation.
Close to the iconic Cross Monument, police cordoned off the area as armed officers managed a tense incident. Multiple police vehicles were seen lining West Street during the unfolding events.
The HART team – Hazardous Area Response Team paramedics trained for high-risk situations – were dispatched by the South East Coast Ambulance Service to assist Sussex Police at the scene.
Police advised the public to avoid the cordoned zone and reassured that the situation was contained with no danger to the public.
“The incident was contained and there was no danger to the general public, but police have thanked people for heeding requests to stay away from the area and apologised to the local community for the disruption caused as they dealt with the man,” a spokesperson confirmed.
The incident concluded safely around 1:20am when officers arrested a 45-year-old local man on suspicion of affray and possession of a knife in a public place. He was medically checked before being held in custody as of 8:50am on Friday.
Originally published by UKNIP.
