Gunman held following armed siege

A man was arrested today after a siege at a bank.

A suspected gunman took a number of hostages in the incident at Barclays Bank in Church Road, Ashford, west London.

Some three hours after the incident began, a man in his 30s was arrested, Surrey Police said.

Surrey Police confirmed tonight that the siege had come to an end and one man had been arrested.

Superintendent Duncan Greenhalgh said: “Shortly before 4pm, Surrey Police received reports that a man with a firearm had entered Barclays Bank in Church Road, Ashford.

“A number of people were inside the bank at the time and being prevented from leaving.

“This was a fast-moving incident and police were on the scene within minutes.

“Trained hostage negotiators made contact with an individual inside the bank and just after 7pm a man came out of the bank and was contained by armed police.

“A man in his 30s has been arrested and is currently in police custody. All the people involved are being assessed by medical teams but there have been no serious injuries.

“This was obviously a very traumatic experience for those members of the public and bank staff caught up in it but I am extremely pleased with the quick and effective response from officers who brought this situation to a close without injury to anyone, including the suspect.

“I would like to thank the community of Ashford for their understanding whilst we dealt with this incident. Police will remain here for some time gathering evidence but we will try and keep disruption to a minimum.”

Shafiul Alam, 26, a waiter in a nearby Indian restaurant called Peppers, said during the stand-off: ``I was around there this afternoon and there was a lot of police activity. There is still a police helicopter circling overhead.

“I’m shocked to hear that the incident is still going on. It is a very quiet bank, with not many staff in it.

“Ashford is a quiet place compared to other towns around here such as Staines and Feltham.”

Local businessman Neil Wood, owner of Ashford Glass, about 150 yards from the bank, said he understood that up to 16 hostages had been released.

“There are thought to be about three staff members who have been let go, identifiable by their shirts,” he said.

Witnesses said one man who came out of the bank had a gun put in his face by police and there was speculation that this was the man who was arrested.

Tim Kiy, Barclays corporate affairs director, said: “We are immensely relieved and happy that all those involved are now safe and able to be reunited with their families.

“Our focus now is the wellbeing of those involved, who will be provided with all the support and counselling they need.

“We would like to thank the Surrey Police for their role in the swift and successful outcome.”

It was understood that the raider forced some of the hostages to put on white boiler suits and also that he asked them to spraypaint to blacken the windows on the inside, so people could not see in.

Jaspal Singh, 32, from Feltham, was working at software company Cadline opposite the bank when the incident began.

“Just after 4pm one of my colleagues came in and told us something was going on downstairs and we went down to look. Then one of the guys ran back in and said he could see some people were lying down in the bank.

“We went out and the armed response turned up and started putting on their protective gear.

“First a large gentlemen came out of the bank and started talking to police and he was taken away in handcuffs.

“About 4.16pm, two women ran out of the bank and went over to an armed policeman with their arms in the air and he told them to run back away from the bank.

“Then at just before 5pm, eight men and women came out of the bank and ran across the road. One man was barefoot and his hands were cable-tied. Another woman, smartly dressed, also has her hands tied.

“We could hear the police commander asking for authorisation to go into the bank at one point.

“At about 5.30pm, the police told us to leave. It was a little bit surreal watching it happen – you don’t expect it in a town like this.”