HULL City Centre was put on lockdown this afternoon as shoppers were evacuated after a man armed with a knife tried to set two banks on fire according to reports.
Humberside Police descended on the Yorkshire city centre this afternoon after reports that a man “tried to set two banks alight”.
Witnesses have reported a number of officers surrounding two banks in Queen Victoria Square as they respond to an ongoing incident.
One witness has said a man tried to pour petrol inside the Santander and Barclays banks in the city centre. It is believed he has now been arrested in Hull Paragon, with the Interchange currently shut off.
Officers were called to Hull city centre this afternoon to a report that a man was carrying a bladed weapon and a container with liquid in thought to be petrol.
The man had entered two banks on King Edward Street around 1pm and set fire to some of the liquid.
Humberside Police said: “A number of officers quickly attended along with fire crews and a small blaze was put out.”
“The situation was contained very quickly by police and emergency crews and the man was arrested at Paragon Interchange. The suspect is now in custody. No one has been seriously injured.”
“The public are advised to avoid the area while our investigations continue.”
“Chief Superintendent Phil Ward, North Bank Commander, said: “We are mindful of the public’s concern that these types of incidents may be related to terrorism, however, there is nothing to suggest that this is anything other than an isolated incident which has been dealt with promptly by the responding police and emergency services.”
This is a developing story.
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