News / avon and somerset police
Armed police descend on shopping centre
Armed police officers swooped on the Galleries after reports that a man had a knife.
Three unmarked police cars were parked on Newgate to one side of the shopping centre, a marked police car had pulled up on the pavement on Union Street and another unmarked car was on Fairfax Street.
But it turned out to be a false alarm with no knife found and no arrests made.
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Armed police officers swooped on the Galleries on Tuesday morning – photo: Martin Booth
In a statement, an Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to The Galleries in Bristol at about 10.50am on Tuesday 7 January following a reported sighting of a man with a knife.
“As a precaution, specialist firearms units were dispatched as part of the police response.
“On arrival, officers found that a man had been detained by the security team after a verbal altercation with another member of the public.
“Following CCTV enquiries and a search the matter is being treated as a false alarm with no knife found and no arrests.
“Neighbourhood officers will be patrolling the area as a reassuring uniformed presence.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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