Latest
CROSSBOW HORROR
Moment cops surround man clad in body armour after he wielded crossbows & hatchet in London attack on ‘people he knew’
Cops reveal moment man was shot dead
A CROSSBOW-wielding attacker shot dead by police today was also armed with a knife, sword and hatchet - and wearing body armour.
Cops swooped on the London street in the early hours of this morning after the man, aged in his 30s, tried to force his way into a home.
6
6
6
The dramatic moment he was brought down in Bywater Place, Southwark was caught on camera.
The horror unfolded around 5am after the man was said to be threatening people, who he knew, inside a property.
Unarmed police were said to have tried to talk to him but were forced to call for more help after he threatened them.
More cops swarmed the quiet residential street after the man got inside the building, and he was shot dead.
Read more News
The police watchdog has now launched a probe into the man's death.
They confirmed the man - wielding crossbows, a sword and a hatchet - knew at least one person inside the home.
IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragic incident.
"The man’s next of kin have been informed and, in due course, we will be contacting them to explain our role.
Most read in The Sun
"We will keep them regularly updated throughout our investigation.
"Given a man has died after being shot by police, our role is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident including the actions and decisions taken by the police.
"We appreciate that the community will want answers quickly and our investigators are working hard to establish the facts and piece together what occurred."
A witness captured the moment officers from the Metropolitan Police and paramedics then provided first aid in the middle of the street.
Weapons, including crossbow bolts and a gas mask scattered the road as cops set up a cordon and forensics teams moved in.
Police this afternoon confirmed the man was wearing body armour, and also had a knife, sword and hatchet on him.
Aerial pictures of the street show items including water bottles scattered across the pavement outside an address with crime scene markers placed next to them.
Two people in the building suffered minor injuries.
Neighbours said they were woken up by a burst of screaming and shouting.
Restaurant owner Akber Baloch, 52, said: "I was sleeping and I heard some shouting. It was also like someone was banging a door.
"There was banging and shouting. It sounded like a man and a woman."
He added: "I was afraid about what was happening. I am really worried and it makes you feel insecure.
"I do not know who is wrong or right in this situation but it makes you feel insecure."
I was sleeping and I heard some shouting. It was also like someone was banging a door.
Akber Baloch
IT consultant Valeria Bocanegra, 37, said: "I could hear shouting but could not hear what was being said.
"I could hear someone screaming and then everything became quiet. I think it was a man and a woman fighting.
"It is quite a shock (to hear that someone has been shot). There is a family behind this situation.
"A man has died and it is a horrible situation."
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the noises made her dog bark and woke her up.
She said: "It sounded to me like someone was trying to get in or maybe banging furniture."
The woman said: "The dog was barking. There was a lot of shouting. There were lots of voices.
"You can see this sort of stuff on TV but when you see it is real and it is real people's lives - it is just really sad.
"It is going to be really traumatic for the people who were inside."
I could hear someone screaming and then everything became quiet. I think it was a man and a woman fighting.
Valeria Bocanegra
Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation, as is standard when there is a fatal police shooting.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, responsible for policing Southwark, said: "My thoughts are with all those affected by this incident.
"I understand the local community will be concerned at the events that have taken place this morning.
";We will fully support the IOPC investigation into the full circumstances of what happened."
An IOPC spokesman said: "We have begun an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of a man by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) earlier this morning in Southwark.
"We were notified by the MPS after the incident, which occurred shortly before 5am, and declared an independent investigation at around 6.40am.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"We have sent investigators to the scene and the police post-incident procedure to begin gathering evidence.
"Our investigation is in its very early stages."
6
6
6
Topics