Police surround building in Sheffield as man feared to have weapons

People were evacuated from a Sheffield apartment building overnight over concerns about a man alleged to have weapons.

Roads near the scene, including the Sheffield Parkway between Park Square roundabout and Derek Dooley Way, were expected to remain closed into this morning.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed they were called to the property after 7pm on Monday with reports a man inside had weapons.

'Those within the building where the property is have been evacuated and those within the neighbouring buildings have been asked to stay indoors while officers conduct their work,' a Facebook post from the force said.

Police and other emergency services remained on the scene in Broad Street early on Tuesday.

Trams are also affected by the shutdown with commuters advised to plan ahead and find an alternative route

Around 100 emergency service crew are understood to have been called to the scene.

Some residents took refuge at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre with university students staying at the nearby Pinnacles accommodation building told to stay inside their flats. 




People were evacuated from a Sheffield apartment building overnight amid concerns over a man alleged to have weapons





South Yorkshire Police confirmed they were called to the property after 7pm on Monday with reports a man inside had weapons

Residents who were evacuated from The Gateway flat block last night had to walk two miles to get to their evacuation centre Virtual Cards - popularvcc.com which would normally have only been a 10-minute trip.

A 300-metre stretch of the city's major ring road is closed while buses and trams remain disrupted, bringing the city to a standstill.

One man who said he lives directly under the flat where police are reportedly negotiating with a man said: 'It was around 7pm and my girlfriend said she heard a loud bang.

'Then I heard another bang like someone was messing around on a balcony.

'Then, at 7:20pm, police came banging on the door really loudly. They told us we had to get out.'

Rosie Sharpley, 22, a Gateway resident, told MailOnline this morning: 'The first I heard of the incident was at 8.30pm last night.

'I was cooking dinner when the police started banging at the door and told us to leave. It was unreal, like a movie. 

'I grabbed my raincoat and was wearing crocs so got soaking wet from the rain. 

'I went to the gym at about 7pm the same evening and saw one police car but didn't think anything of it.'




Police and other emergency services remained on the scene in Broad Street early this morning

She continued: 'We had to stand outside for a while before we were taken to Ponds Forge. 

'There were a lot of us there, roughly 40 to 50 but it's hard to tell. 

'I slept on my friend's sofa last night and left this morning hoping I could go back to the flat. 

'But now I'm back at Ponds Forge because the whole area is cordoned off.

'It's radio silence and they won't tell us anything. It's a nightmare and we are stuck in limbo. 

'We were given hygiene packs this morning with towels and although we are allowed to leave there isn't anywhere we can go.'

One woman who works at Ponds Forge said she struggled to get into work this morning and that some people had even abandoned their cars.

Earlier this morning, the woman saw a white sheet sticking outside the window of the Gateway block of flats, which remains evacuated since last night as police negotiate with a man inside who reportedly has weapons.

Speaking outside the centre, the woman said: 'I saw a sheet at 8am and there's been police officers at another balcony.

'There's been police officers in the South Yorkshire authority building as there is a good view.'

South Yorkshire Police shared on Facebook this morning that Sheffield Parkway road closures remain in place. 

Trams are also affected in the area and those travelling are advised to check Travel South Yorkshire. 


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