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Armed officers and hostage negotiators were transferred to a man who barricaded himself in a flat after threatening police near London Bridge.
Police with assault rifles were seen running toward the tower property on Great Dover Street around 3 p.m. today.
Some police snipers wearing night vision goggles were seen pointing their guns at a window in the development.
Residents said they saw two police snipers at the scene targeting an apartment in the block, and others were told to stay away from windows while armed police entered.
The Metropolitan Police said there is no threat to the general public, but the confrontation continues.
Neighbors initially feared the man had taken a hostage, but police said they were “sure he was alone on the property.”
Firefighters also brought hoses to neighbors speculating that a man was threatening to start a fire.
Members of the public have been removed from the street after gas was reportedly intentionally released from a damaged pipeline.
A neighbor told the Standard: “It is very difficult to know what is happening. I think there were a couple of negotiators on the scene a couple hours ago.
“There’s like a complete swat team with night vision goggles.”
A sniper and an armed officer seen on the block.
/ Twitter )Another told the Standard: “Yeah, it’s crazy. The police have very large artillery there and two snipers. I took a couple of photos and then turned away from the windows.
“There was quite a lot of yelling even though the place is super quiet at the moment. However, the snipers, the number of officers and fire trucks don’t make it very reassuring.”
Police tweeted that they were called to a “riot” at Selbourne House, south of the River Thames in Southwark.
“On Saturday, January 2 at 2:12 p.m., the police answered a call to a riot on Great Dover Street, SE1,” the tweet read.
“Due to the threats made to the officers, a multi-agency response was coordinated.
“At this time there is no known threat to the public.”
An additional statement read: “Officers, including an armed response team that was deployed as a precautionary measure, remain at the scene and are speaking to a man inside the property.
“There are no reports of injuries and officers are confident that no one else is on the property.
“Several nearby buildings have been evacuated as a precautionary measure and several roads are closed. There is no greater risk to the public.”
