Exclusive GB News footage shows a swathe of police officers gathering outside a southeast London home before shooting dead a man who was “armed with a crossbow”.
The man, believed to be in his 30s, was reportedly armed with weapons including a crossbow and was threatening to harm residents inside an address in Southwark, London.
Police are seen in Southwark responding to reports of a man who was 'armed with a crossbow'
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The Metropolitan Police said: "Local officers attended and attempted to speak to the man but, after being threatened, armed officers were called and quickly attended the scene.
"The man had got inside the property, and a police firearm was discharged.
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Paramedics seen outside the property where the incident took place
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"Officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service immediately provided first aid but sadly the man died at the scene."
Footage gathered by GB News shows three police cars arriving on the scene with “30-40 officers” circling the area.
They are spotted putting up cordons and entering a property in response to the incident.
Two people in the house in Bywater Place suffered minor injuries, the police said.
Locals reported around 30-40 police officers in the area
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An investigation has been launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is standard when there is a fatal police shooting.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh 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."
A spokesperson for the IOPC 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, south London.
"We were notified by the MPS after the incident, which occurred shortly before 5am, and declared an independent investigation at around 6.40am. 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."
Assistant commissioner Matt Twist said: "The first unarmed officers knew they were arriving on scene to reports of man armed with weapons and threatening to harm people inside an address. The officers knew there were people inside and had genuine fears for their safety.
"Armed officers were called and attempted to get the man to surrender. They entered the property and shots were fired. The officers, assisted by paramedics, provided emergency first aid to the man, who was wearing body armour, but he sadly died.
"Weapons recovered from the scene include crossbows, a knife, a sword and a hatchet. This is an extremely difficult day for everyone involved. I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of all our officers who responded and thank all the emergency service staff involved. I firmly believe their actions prevented further loss of life."
