ARMED cops have descended on a high street amid fears of a “hostage situation” this afternoon.
A shirtless man was seen waving a knife outside a window on Lewisham High Street in south-east London.
Pictures from the scene show emergency services outside of the HSBC bank.
The branch closed as a precaution, and the bank said no customers or staff were involved.
A Met Police spokesperson said there “is no information available at this time to suggest there is anyone else inside the property”.
Locals who live in the cordoned-off area were being told by cops to go to the local community centre, where they are serving hot drinks.
Officers were called at 10.45am and are currently speaking to the man.
Police are speculated be storming the building shortly as the standoff is still ongoing after over seven hours.
Armed police have been spotted gathering outside a building behind the large cordon.
The area has been closed both ways between Lee High Road/ Belmont Hill and A2211 Rennell Street.
The man could be seen prowling around through windows on the third floor of a building above Subway.
He was brandishing a knife and could be heard taunting police.
One concerned local told The Sun: “What an absolute fool, he’s decided to do it right next to a police station.
“It’s terrifying, there’s armed cops everywhere and we don’t know what’s going on.
“We can just see him walking about up there. Why are they not going in?”
Bottles of alcohol could be seen scattered across the windowsills outside the man’s flat.
Another local said: “I can’t go home and I don’t know what to do.
“The police have no idea how long this is going to last.
“It’s so scary to think this is happening next door to me, I just had to let my family know I was okay.”
Residents also told how the man was known to be something of a “troublemaker” in the block of flats.
One said: “11am this morning he was hanging out the window shouting he was going to kill himself and that he had hostages.”
Police at the scene told how the incident had been ongoing for a couple of hours.
Officers extended the cordon and told residents they were hoping to resolve the incident quickly and safely.
A food retailer at Lewisham Market said the stand-off had been going on since late morning.
“It’s a waiting game,” she said.
“He’s hiding himself around the corner because he knows they’re pointing guns at him,” the woman, who did not want to be named said.
“At first nobody knew what was going on.
“They keep moving the police cordon back.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to a disturbance on Lewisham High Street, at around 10.45am on Monday.
“Officers are currently in attendance at the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade.
“We are speaking to a man inside a residential address at the location.
“There is no information available at this time to suggest there is anyone else inside the property.”
Police are continuing to attend an incident at a residential property in Lewisham town centre. A cordon remains in place, with significant impact on traffic and local buses.
Lewisham Council said at 8.34pm: “Council staff and police are at the scene to support anyone unable to access their home.
“If you’re unable to return home, please attend the cordon or call 020 8314 6000 for advice and support.”
Lewisham MPS added on X: “We are aware of social media reports about an incident in Lewisham High Street.
“Officers are currently in attendance at a residential address at the location speaking to a man inside the property.”
The force added: “Due to an ongoing incident in Lewisham High Street towards Lee High Road, traffic will be diverted and may be heavier than usual.
“Please plan your journey accordingly.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.48am today (10 February) to reports of an incident in Lewisham High Street, SE13.
“We sent an incident response officer and members of our Tactical Response Unit and Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene.
“We are responding alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service and London Fire Brigade and remain on scene as a precaution.”
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