Early Monday morning, thirty armed police officers descended on Barnehurst following reports that a man had threatened to shoot over access to his children. The incident took place on Bexley Road, where the man climbed onto a roof brandishing a gun and warned he would shoot anyone trying to reach his kids.
Police quickly established a lockdown zone, cordoning off Bexley Road and surrounding streets. Residents were advised to stay indoors as the man claimed he had a gun in his pocket and threatened to use it.
Seven armed response units, an undercover BMW X5, a dog handler, and several police vans arrived at the scene shortly after midnight. Due to the seriousness of the threat, specialised units including a Fire NILO officer and a HART team were also called in to manage the tense situation.
An Essex police helicopter was deployed to assist officers in monitoring the man, who remained on the roof above the chemist on Bexley Road for several hours, refusing to come down. The lockdown caused significant disruption in Bexley Road and nearby side streets well into the night.
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, commented, “I heard he’s going through a rough time trying to get access to his children. It’s shocking to see it escalate like this.” Many residents also expressed frustration on social media about the noise from the police helicopter, which was flying overhead as they tried to sleep with windows open due to the heat.
After hours of negotiation, police successfully detained the man peacefully and took him away in a police van. It remains unclear whether the alleged weapon was recovered or what charges the man may face. The Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment.
More details will be provided as the story develops.
Originally published by UKNIP.
